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Rod Wilson
Defensive Assistant
Biography
Rod Wilson enters his fourth season with the Chiefs in 2022 as a defensive assistant. Wilson returns to Kansas City after coaching the linebackers at his alma mater, South Carolina, in 2020 followed by a season at Coastal Carolina coaching the inside linebackers. Wilson spent his first three seasons (2017-19) in KC as the assistant special teams coach.
Rod Wilson enters his fourth season with the Chiefs in 2022 as a defensive assistant. Wilson returns to Kansas City after coaching the linebackers at his alma mater, South Carolina, in 2020 followed by a season at Coastal Carolina coaching the inside linebackers. Wilson spent his first three seasons (2017-19) in KC as the assistant special teams coach.
In 2021, Wilson assisted Coastal Carolina to an 11-2 record en route to a 47-41 win over NIU in the Cure Bowl. He mentored a defense that was ranked in the Top 25 nationally, tutoring LB Silas Kelly to earn first-team All-Sun Belt and second-team PFF All-Sun Belt honors, as well as ranking third in the conference in tackles. He also tutored LB Teddy Gallagher to earn a Sun Belt Honorable Mention.
At USC in 2020, he mentored Ernest Jones who was named to the 2020 Phil Steele All-SEC fourth team. He went on to be selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 40th pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Wilson also coached SEC All-Freshman linebacker Mohamed Kaba.
The 2019 Super Bowl Champion Chiefs special teams ranked in the top 10 in kick returns, kick return coverage and punt return coverage. Rookie WR Mecole Hardman recorded the longest kick return, scoring a touchdown on a 104-yard kickoff in the final game of the regular season against the Los Angeles Chargers. Hardman's 104-yard kickoff return touchdown ranked as the third-longest kickoff return in Chiefs history. He was named Second-Team All-Pro as a kick returner and named to his first Pro Bowl as a return specialist. K Harrison Butker set a franchise record for most points by a kicker in a single season with 147 points. In his 15th season, P Dustin Colquitt recorded 48 punts for 2,126 yards putting his career total at 50,393 punting yards, the eighth-most in NFL history.
In 2018, the Chiefs special teams ranked third in punt returns, fourth in punt return coverage and eight in kickoff returns. K Harrison Butker had a strong second season, making 24 of 27 kicks and P Dustin Colquitt placed 21 kicks inside the 20 yard line, moving him to third all-time in NFL history (441).
In 2017, Wilson assisted Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub, helping guide K Harrison Butker to a decorated rookie season - recording a franchise record of 23 consecutive FGs, ranking second in franchise history for most FGs made in a single season and tied for first for the most 50-plus yard FGs made in a season with four.
Wilson also assisted with the return and coverage units, in which during the 2017 season, the Chiefs led the NFL in kick returns (40) for 1,051 yards. Under his tutelage, WR/PR Tyreek Hill earned his second Pro Bowl selection, tallying 25 punt returns for 204 yards and a touchdown.
He spent four seasons (2013-16) at Charleston Southern coaching the safeties, inside linebackers and assisted with special teams, following a six-year NFL playing career. Within his four years at CSU, he made a brief stop in Kansas City as part of the league's Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship during the club's 2015 training camp. Under Wilson's tutelage, CSU landed at least one linebacker on the Big South's All-Conference squad each of his four seasons. In 2016, Wilson helped guide the Buccaneers defense to top rankings within the league, limiting opponents to the fewest rushing touchdowns (15) and fewest total rushing yards (1,488). The 2015 Buccaneers ranked atop the league in total defense (292.0 yards per game) and held opponents to the second-fewest rushing yards per game (147.1) which helped earn an outright Big South title and the program's first-ever berth into the FCS Playoffs.
Prior to his collegiate coaching career, Wilson enjoyed a six-year playing career in the National Football League. Originally selected in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft (220th overall) by the Chicago Bears, Wilson appeared in 51 games for the Chicago Bears and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, tallying 47 tackles and one forced fumble while primarily playing a special teams role under then-Special Teams Coach Dave Toub. Wilson's career highlights include four playoff appearances, which included two NFC Championship appearances and a trip to Super Bowl XLI.
The Cross, S.C., native attended the University of South Carolina, where he played five different positions for the Gamecocks (quarterback, wide receiver, spur, safety and linebacker) and put together an outstanding senior year as one of USC's captains, leading the team in tackles (68) while earning All-SEC honors, and SEC Academic Honor Roll accolades.
Education: South Carolina (B.S. 2004). Born: Cross, S.C. Family: Wife - Megan; Sons - Jaylen and Ryan; Daughter - Nova.