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Vikings hire Marcus Dixon from Broncos as defensive line coach

Minnesota also added outside linebackers coach to Mike Pettine's title.

The Vikings named Marcus Dixon as their defensive line coach and added outside linebackers coach to assistant head coach Mike Pettine’s title on Friday.

Dixon was the Denver Broncos’ defensive line coach for the past two seasons, and he previously had stints coaching in the college level at his alma mater, Hampton (2017-20), and in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams as their assistant defensive line coach (2021), winning Super Bowl LVI during his time there.

A Rome, Ga., native, Dixon also played in the NFL from 2008-14, having stints with the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans.

Marcus Dixon

Denver Broncos defensive line coach Marcus Dixon watches drills during the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on March 5, 2022.

The Vikings had a vacancy at defensive line coach after Chris Rumph left for Clemson in December, taking a job to coach the defensive ends. Prior to his departure, Rumph had been on a leave of absence since October. 

Pettine is entering his third season as the Vikings’ assistant head coach and will take on the additional duty of coaching outside linebackers this season. Pettine spent the first seven years of his coaching career as an outside linebackers coach.

He’s had stints in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens (2002-08), Jets (2009-12), Buffalo Bills (2013), Cleveland Browns (2014-15), Seattle Seahawks (2017), Green Bay Packers (2018-20) and Chicago Bears (2021). 

Pettine was the Browns’ head coach from 2014-15.