A Bengals assistant from 1997-2002, Mark Duffner returned to Cincinnati's coaching staff in '19 as senior defensive assistant. He now is in his 27th season as an NFL coach, and 11th overall with the Bengals.
In 2022, Duffner helped the defense rank sixth in the NFL in points allowed per game (20.1). Working closely with the defensive line, he helped guide DE Trey Hendrickson to a team-leading eight sacks and his second straight Pro Bowl selection, while DTs B.J. Hill and DJ Reader helped lead the team in ranking seventh leaguewide in rushing yards allowed per game (106.6).
In 2021, Duffner worked with a defense that ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed (102.5 per game) and 11th in sacks (41). Hendrickson in his first Bengals season notched 14 sacks, the fifth-most in the league and second-most in team history. Cincinnati's run to Super Bowl LVI marked Duffner's first time coaching in the big game, as the Bengals had a league-high eight INTs and 155 tackles in the postseason.
In 2020, Duffner helped the Cincinnati defense hold opposing passers to a 62.8 completion percentage (sixth in the NFL), while also guiding the transition of seven new starters despite an offseason with no on-field work due to COVID-19. In 2019, Cincinnati recorded 11 more sacks in the second half of the season compared to the first eight games and allowed 84.1 fewer yards per game.
Duffner spent 2016-18 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as linebackers coach and served the last 11 games of '18 as interim defensive coordinator. In those 11 contests, the Bucs' defense improved its yards allowed per game from 439.8 to 357.7. In 2017, Duffner helped LB Kwon Alexander earn his first Pro Bowl nod, while LB Lavonte David had five FFs (second-most in the NFL) and a league-high five FRs. Duffner in 2017 and '18 was voted as Buccaneers Coach of the Year as part of Tampa Bay's local PewterCast Awards.
From 2014-15, Duffner served as linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins, working alongside several current Bengals coaches, including head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Prior to Miami, he spent eight seasons (2006-13) coaching LBs with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Duffner in 2014 was named Jacksonville's top assistant coach by the Florida Times-Union on the Jaguars' All-20th Anniversary Team.
Duffner spent the 2003-05 seasons as linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers, helping '03 first-round pick Nick Barnett lead the team in tackles in three straight seasons.
Duffner broke into the NFL coaching ranks with the Bengals from 1997-2002, spending four seasons ('97-00) as LBs coach and two ('01-02) as defensive coordinator. In 2001, the team allowed the fewest points (309) since 1989.
Prior to the NFL, Duffner coached 22 years in the college ranks, including 11 as a head coach. He compiled a combined 80-40-1 record as a head coach at the University of Maryland (1992-96) and The College of the Holy Cross ('86-91). Duffner in 1995 helped the Terrapins return to the national rankings for the first time in nine seasons. He also guided Holy Cross to five Patriot League championships and the No. 1 ranking in the final 1987 NCAA Division I-AA poll. He was named Patriot League Coach of the Year four times, and in 1987 and '91 was voted the National Coach of the Year. Duffner left Holy Cross with the best winning percentage in Patriot League history (.917), and was inducted into the Holy Cross Hall of Fame in 2008.
Duffner began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State under Woody Hayes from 1975-76 while he earned a master's degree. He then served as defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati from 1977-80.
Duffner was born on July 19, 1953, in Annandale, Va.. He played college football at William & Mary from 1972-74 (inducted into school's hall of fame in '90). He and his wife, Kathy, have two daughters, Christina and Carolyn, and one son, John, as well as four granddaughters and one grandson.
Playing and coaching history: 1971-74—Played defensive line at William & Mary. 1975-76—Graduate assistant coach, Ohio State. 1977-80—Defensive coordinator, University of Cincinnati. 1981-85—Defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, Holy Cross. 1986-91—Head coach, Holy Cross. 1992-96—Head coach, Maryland. 1997-2000—Assistant coach (AC), Cincinnati Bengals. 2001-02—Defensive coordinator, Bengals. 2003-05—AC, Green Bay Packers. 2006-13—AC, Jacksonville Jaguars. 2014-15—AC, Miami Dolphins. 2016-18—AC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (interim defensive coordinator for final 11 games of '18). 2019-present—AC, Bengals.
