Rob Rodriguez is in his sixth NFL season and first with the Cardinals after joining Arizona's staff as the outside linebackers coach on 3/1/23.
Rodriguez came to the Cardinals after spending the past three seasons (2020-2022) at Arizona State as defensive line coach. In 2021, the Sun Devils featured one of the conference's best defenses, tying for 1st in the Pac-12 in average yards allowed per play (5.0) and rushing average allowed (3.7) while also finishing 2nd in the conference in total defense (325.7 ypg), sacks (27), tackles for loss (75) and 3rd in rushing yards allowed per game (131.5) and tied for 3rd in total takeaways (20).
Prior to coaching at ASU, he spent five seasons (2015-19) as the assistant defensive line coach with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings defense achieved significant success during Rodriguez's tenure with the team. In 2019, they were tied for 5th in the NFL in points per game (18.9) and sacks (48) and 13th in rushing defense (108.0 ypg). DE Danielle Hunter finished 4th in the NFL with 14.5 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year.
In 2018, Minnesota finished 4th in the league in total defense (309.7 ypg) and in scoring defense (21.3 ppg), the third consecutive season the Vikings finished top-five in the league in each category. The team also led the NFL in third-down defense (30.5%) for the 2nd straight season. Hunter had a team-high 14.5 sacks and was named second-team All-Pro while making his first Pro Bowl. The Vikings defense had 50 sacks in 2018, tied for the third-most in team history.
The previous year (2017), DE Everson Griffen and DT Linval Joseph were selected to the Pro Bowl for the second-straight year while Griffen was also named second-team All-Pro. Griffen started the year with a sack in each of the team's first eight games, tied for the longest streak to start a season in NFL history. Minnesota led the league in total defense (275.9 ypg) and scoring defense (15.8 ppg) and held opponents to a 25.2% conversion rate on third-down, the best mark in the NFL since 1991. The Vikings surrendered just 20 runs of 10+ yards, tops in the NFL and tied with the 49ers (1995) for the fewest in the league since 1991.
The Vikings tied for 4th in the league with 41 sacks in 2016 with 34 of those coming from the defensive line, the second-most as a unit in the league. They finished 3rd in the league in total defense (314.9 ypg) while Griffen and Joseph were both selected to the Pro Bowl as Joseph had 100 tackles on the season. Hunter had a team-leading 12.5 sacks, tied for the 3rd most in the NFL, while the Vikings defensive line scored two touchdowns and a safety.
In 2015, the Vikings ranked 5th in the NFL in points per game (19.3) and the defensive line accounted for 30 of the team's 43 sacks. Griffen led Minnesota with 10.5 sacks (4th in NFC) and was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Hunter's 6.0 sacks ranked 2nd in the NFL for sacks by a rookie and were the 5th most by a rookie in team history, helping him be named to the All-Rookie team by the PFWA. Â
Rodriguez went to Minnesota after spending seven seasons (2008-14) at his alma mater, UTEP, where he worked with Miners linebackers and helped coach special teams. During the 2013 season, the Miners special teams unit was led by Autrey Golden who averaged 27.6-yards per kickoff return (10th nationally) and tied for 2nd nationally in kickoff return TDs (2). In 2011, LB Isaiah Carter finished with 54 tackles and was named All-Conference USA honorable mention for the second-consecutive season.
He played linebacker collegiately at UTEP (2001-04) before spending time with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans in 2005 and playing with the Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe (2006) and the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL (2006-07).
Rodriguez ranks 5th in UTEP school history with 443 career tackles, including 33 tackles for loss. He led the Western Athletic Conference in tackles in three of his four seasons and was named the WAC Defensive Player as a senior in 2004 after collecting 121 tackles and 16 tackles for loss.
An El Paso, TX native, Rodriguez and his wife, Holly, have two sons, Caleb and Jesse.
