| Kansas City Chiefs | |
|---|---|
| Title | Assistant running backs |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1987-06-30)June 30, 1987 (age 38) Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
| Career history | |
| |
Mark DeLeone (born June 30, 1987) is an Americanfootball coach who is the assistant running backs coach for theKansas City Chiefs of theNational Football League (NFL). He was previously the inside linebackers coach of the Chiefs in 2018, theChicago Bears in 2019 and 2020, theDetroit Lions in 2021, and theBaltimore Ravens in 2024.
On April 1, 2016, DeLeone was promoted to theKansas City Chiefs assistant linebackers coach.[1] The Chiefs went 12–4 in 2016 and clinched the AFC West title for the first time since 2010 and made the playoffs for the second year in a row for the first time since 1995.[2][3] They would lose in the Divisional Round against thePittsburgh Steelers 16–18.[4] During the season they would defeat the NFC Champions, theAtlanta Falcons 29-28.[5] Linebackers Justin Houston,Derrick Johnson, andTamba Hali would make theNFL's Top 100, ranked 26th, 80th, and 84th respectively.
The Chiefs went 10–6 in 2017 and won back-to-back AFC West titles for the first time in franchise history and made the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time since 1994.[6] They would lose to theTennessee Titans in the Wild Card round 21-22.[7] They would defeat both the AFC championNew England Patriots and the NFC championPhiladelphia Eagles during the season.[8][9] Under his coaching,Justin Houston would rank 7th in tackles for loss.[10] Justin Houston would make theNFL's Top 100 ranked 76th.
In the 2017 offseason, Derrick Johnson left in free agency & Tamba Hali was released.[11][12] On January 29, 2018, DeLeone was promoted to theKansas City Chiefs inside linebackers coach.[13] The Chiefs went 12-4 and won their third straight AFC West title in franchise history and made the playoffs for the fourth year in a row for the first time since 1993.[14][15] They would go on to defeat theIndianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round 31-13 and then lose to theNew England Patriots in the AFC Championship game 31–37.[16][17] During the season they defeated two playoff teams; the AFC North championBaltimore Ravens and theLos Angeles Chargers.[18][19] Under his coaching, Justin Houston ranked 5th in forced fumbles and linebackerReggie Ragland recorded the 8th longest interception return.[20] At the end of the season, defensive coordinatorBob Sutton was fired and DeLeone left to join his former offensive coordinatorMatt Nagy.[21]
On January 29, 2019, the Chicago Bears named DeLeone the inside linebackers coach.[22] The Bears went 8-8 in 2019 and missed the playoffs.[23]
On January 28, 2021, theDetroit Lions hired DeLeone as their inside linebacker coach.[24] On February 16, 2022, the Lions parted ways with DeLeone after one season.[25]
In the spring of 2022, DeLeone was hired as a defensive analyst atKansas.[26]
On January 28, 2025, it was announced that DeLeone would not return to theBaltimore Ravens, having spent one season with the team serving as their inside linebackers coach.[27]
Mark graduated from theUniversity of Iowa, earning a bachelor's degree in liberal arts & sciences. He is the son of the lateGeorge DeLeone, who was an assistant coach in college football and the NFL for nearly 50 years.[28]