Rod Wilson
Rodriques Wilson (born November 12, 1981) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the outside linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2024 to 2025. Wilson played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Wilson's coaching career began in 2013 and he previously served as an assistant coach for Charleston Southern University, the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina University and Kansas City Chiefs.
 Wilson in 2020 | |||||||
| Arizona Cardinals | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Inside linebackers coach | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | November 12, 1981 Cross, South Carolina, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| Position | Defensive back (No. 59, 56, 58) | ||||||
| High school | Cross | ||||||
| College | South Carolina | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2005: 7th round, 220th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
Playing | |||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
Coaching | |||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Rodriques Wilson (born November 12, 1981) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the outside linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2024 to 2025.
Wilson played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft.[1] He was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars. Wilson's coaching career began in 2013 and he previously served as an assistant coach for Charleston Southern University, the University of South Carolina, Coastal Carolina University and Kansas City Chiefs.
Playing career
[edit]| Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) |
227 lb (103 kg) |
4.67 s | 4.12 s | 7.10 s | 39.0 in (0.99 m) |
9 ft 11 in (3.02 m) |
21 reps | |||||
| All values from Pro Day[2] | ||||||||||||
Chicago Bears
[edit]Wilson broke his arm in a 2008 preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.[3] He was later released with an injury settlement.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
[edit]Wilson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 17, 2008.[4]
Jacksonville Jaguars
[edit]Wilson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 17, 2010.[5] Following the NFL Preseason, he was released on September 3, 2010.[6]
Chicago Bears
[edit]Wilson signed with the Chicago Bears on September 15, 2010, after an injury to linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer.[7]
Coaching career
[edit]Charleston Southern
[edit]Wilson was the inside linebackers coach at Charleston Southern University from 2013 to 2016.[8]
Furman
[edit]On January 18, 2017, Wilson was hired as the linebackers coach at Furman University.[8]
Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)
[edit]On February 7, 2017, Wilson was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as their assistant special teams coach under head coach Andy Reid after being a coach at Furman for only 20 days.[9][8] In 2019, Wilson won his first Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–20 in Super Bowl LIV.[10]
South Carolina
[edit]On February 21, 2020, Wilson was hired as the linebackers coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[11]
Following the conclusion of the 2020 season, it was announced that Wilson would not be retained as a member of new head coach Shane Beamer's staff.[12]
Coastal Carolina
[edit]On June 2, 2021, Wilson was hired as the inside linebackers coach for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.[13]
Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)
[edit]In March 2022, Wilson was re-hired by the Chiefs as a defensive assistant.[14] In 2022, Wilson won his second Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 in Super Bowl LVII.[15] In 2023, Wilson won his third Super Bowl when the Chiefs defeated the 49ers 25–22 in Super Bowl LVIII.[16]
Arizona Cardinals
[edit]On February 20, 2026, Wilson was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as their inside linebackers coach under head coach Mike LaFleur.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "2005 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Rod Wilson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
- ^ "Bears LB Wilson carted off field with broken arm". NFL.com. August 21, 2008. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "A Look Into the Depths". Buccaneers.com. May 30, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ "Jaguars sign LB Rod Wilson". Jaguars.com. August 17, 2010. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ Crow, Alfie (September 3, 2010). "2010 Jaguars NFL Roster Cuts: Jags trim 5". Big Cat Country. SB Nation. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ "Bears Sign Rod Wilson To A One-Year Contract". CBS Chicago. September 16, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Furman Names Rod Wilson Linebackers Coach". FurmanPaladins.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
- ^ "Chiefs Add Mike Kafka and Rod Wilson to Coaching Staff". Kansas City Chiefs. February 8, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ^ "Super Bowl LIV – San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 2nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- ^ "Will Muschamp comments on new LB coach Rod Wilson". Sports Illustrated. February 21, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ McGranahan, Nate (December 22, 2020). "Third defensive assistant won't return in 2021". 247Sports. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
- ^ "Rod Wilson Joins Coastal Football Staff". Coastal Carolina University Athletics. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Goldman, Charles (April 25, 2022). "Chiefs hired former special teams assistant Rod Wilson as a defensive assistant". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 13, 2023). "Mahomes, Chiefs beat Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII". AP News. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
- ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 12, 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Urban, Darren (February 20, 2026). "Cardinals Announce Coaching Staff Under Mike LaFleur". Arizona Cardinals. Retrieved February 21, 2026.