Mark DeLeone returns to Kansas City for his seventh campaign and first as assistant running backs coach. DeLeone held various titles during his first stint with Kansas City, including inside linebackers coach (2018), assistant linebackers coach (2015-17) and defensive quality control coach (2013-14). Prior to joining the Chiefs, DeLeone spent one season as the New York Jets (2012) defensive assistant under former Chiefs defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. DeLeone's time in Kansas City is highlighted by tutoring linebackers to a Pro Bowl berth in his first four seasons with the Chiefs.
DeLeone spent the 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens, where he coached the inside linebackers. LB Roquan Smith (154) and LB Trenton Simpson (70) both ranked top-three in tackles for the Ravens defensive unit. Smith's 154 tackles tied for the fourth-most in the NFL last season. Smith was a first-team All-Pro and a leader in Pro Bowl voting.
DeLeone served as a defensive analyst for the University of Kansas for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2022, Kansas tallied six wins, which is four more than the season prior and fell short in a triple overtime thriller against Arkansas in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In 2023, KU continued to build on that success, tallying nine wins the next season and defeated UNLV in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
In 2021, DeLeone oversaw the Lions' inside linebackers. Under DeLeone's leadership, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin had a career year recording 72 tackles (46 solo), four tackles for loss, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one quarterback hit and one fumble recovery. In just 14 games, LB Alex Anzalone recorded 78 tackles (49 solo) which ranked third on the Lions defense.
DeLeone left Kansas City after the 2018 season to join then-head coach Matt Nagy and the Chicago Bears as the inside linebackers coach and spent two seasons (2019-20) there. LB Roquan Smith recorded 239 total tackles (100 in 2019; 139 in 2020) and emerged as one of the best linebackers in the league. His 239 tackles tied for the 10th-most in that time span. Smith's 139 tackles in 2020 ranked sixth among all defenders in the 2020 season. DeLeone also helped LB Danny Trevathan record a career-high 113 tackles (67 solo).
Since 2013, DeLeone tutored veteran LB Derrick Johnson as he became the franchise tackles leader, compiling 1,262 tackles (993 solo). He also worked with second-year LB Reggie Ragland as he continued to see more action following his arrival to the team in 2017, starting 10 of the 12 games he played in. In 2015, DeLeone's third season with the Chiefs, LBs Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson all earn Pro Bowl berths, just the third time in franchise history that three Chiefs linebackers were selected to the NFL's all-star game, with all three occurrences being held by Hali, Houston and Johnson.
In his second season, Houston broke the team's franchise record for sacks with 22.0, topping Derrick Thomas' previous record of 20.0 sacks in a single season. Houston's performance led to him being named the Derrick Thomas award winner as the team's MVP. LB Josh Mauga also led the defense with 103 tackles (82 solo) in 2014.
Prior to entering the NFL coaching ranks with the Jets in 2012, DeLeone served as a graduate assistant at Temple University during 2011. He also served as a quality control coach at the University of Florida in 2010, working on head coach Urban Meyer's staff. He worked with the wide receivers in the spring, and then moved on and worked with the offensive line and tight ends in the fall. During that season, the Gators produced seven All-SEC performers en route to their Outback Bowl victory.
In 2009, he held the titles of director of football operations and assistant offensive line coach at the University of New Hampshire. In that season, the Wildcats went 10-3 en route to the Colonial Athletic Association North Championship and a quarterfinal showing in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
He began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Iowa, where he was a defensive student assistant for Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes staff (2007-08). In 2007, he worked with the linebackers and switched to the defensive line in 2008. While with the Hawkeyes, Iowa won the 2009 Outback Bowl and produced 14 All-Big Ten selections and 22 NFL players.
DeLeone worked with two 2011 first-round NFL Draft picks in OL Mike Pouncey (Florida) and Adrian Clayborn (Iowa) during his time in the collegiate coaching ranks.
A 2009 graduate of the University of Iowa, DeLeone earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and sciences.
Education: University of Iowa (B.A. 2009). Born: Syracuse, N.Y. Family: Wife - Molly; Sons – Rafael, Salvator and Lorenzo.
