The Bengals have made another addition to the coaching staff. Mike Hodges has been hired as LB coach, replacing James Bettcher, who was among the firings that took place earlier this month.
Hodges has spent the past 8 seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He started out as a defensive assistant in his first couple of seasons with the team. Hodges was then promoted to LB coach in year 3, a position he held through this past season.
Prior to joining the Saints, Hodges coached in college at Eastern Illinois University. Before that, during his playing days, he was a LB at Texas A&M. His time there actually overlapped with Zac Taylor, who was an offensive assistant, as well as the TE coach.
The familiarity perhaps played a role in Hodges getting the job. Of course, new defensive coordinator Al Golden likely also had an input. Golden, of course, was the Bengals LB coach in 2020 and 2021, and earned a lot of praise for the job he did. It would make sense for him to have some input on the guy who is set to fill the job he once held.
