In a move that will likely ease the Dallas Cowboys’ transition from Rob Ryan’s 4-3 alignment to Monte Kiffin’s vaunted 4-3, the team signed Rod Marinelli to become their defensive line coach on Friday, shortly after meeting with the former Bears’ defensive coordinator, who spent ten seasons under Kiffin in Tampa Bay.
Marinelli could have stayed in Chicago after head coach Lovie Smith was fired but, always the loyal friend, Marinelli opted to depart. Even after the reports began to surface saying that Marinelli was at Valley Ranch, we had some doubts as to whether Dallas could land him, because we imagined that he would have a chance at another coordinator job.
In their first go round in Tampa Bay, Marinelli worked as the Buccaneers’ defensive line coach under the coordinator Kiffin. He left after the 2005 season to become the Lions’ head coach, and stayed for three seasons. He’s been in Chicago since, spending one season as the defensive line coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator, where he stayed for three seasons.
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