Former NFL defensive back Marcus Robertson enters his first season as Arizona’s defensive backs coach after joining the Cardinals staff on 2/6/19. He came to Arizona from Denver where he worked the past two seasons (2017-18) in the same role with the Broncos.
Robertson has spent the last 28 seasons in the NFL as a player, coach, and administrator and has coached defensive backs for the past 12 seasons with Tennessee (2007-11), Detroit (2012-13), Oakland (2014-16) and Denver.
In 2018, Robertson helped the Broncos tie for 5th in the NFL in interceptions (17) after helping Denver rank 4th in the NFL in pass defense (200.6 ypg) and 2nd in third down defense (31.5%) in 2017. He also helped CB Aqib Talib earn his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and coached CB Chris Harris to his fourth career Pro Bowl in 2018 after Harris collected three INTs and a sack. CB Bradley Roby led the Broncos in 2017 with a career-high 17 passes defensed, and Denver’s secondary had all 10 of the team’s INTs that season.
Prior to joining the Broncos, Robertson spent two seasons (2015-16) as the Raiders defensive backs coach after working as the assistant defensive backs coach in Oakland in 2014. During his two seasons as defensive backs coach, the Raiders ranked 8th in the NFL with 30 interceptions and 6th in the league with 163 passes defensed, while safeties Charles Woodson (2015) and Reggie Nelson (2016) were each selected to the Pro Bowl. Woodson’s five INTs in 2015 were the most in NFL history by a player in his 18th season or later.
Robertson served as Detroit’s secondary coach in 2013 after being promoted from assistant secondary coach in 2012. The Lions finished 9th in the league with 88 passes defensed and held opponents to a 59.1 completion percentage in 2013.
He began his coaching career with the Titans as assistant secondary coach for two seasons (2007-08) before being promoted to secondary coach from 2009-11. In 2008, the Titans had three first-time Pro Bowl selections (CB Cortland Finnegan, S Chris Hope, S Michael Griffin) while Tennessee defensive backs had 19 INTs that season to rank second in the NFL. As secondary coach, the Titans ranked second in the NFL in average passing yards per completion (10.6) between 2009-11. In 2009, Tennessee finished 8th in the NFL in interceptions (20) while ranking second in the league with four INTs returned for TDs.
Robertson played in the NFL for 12 years with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1991-00) and the Seattle Seahawks (2001-02) after entering the league with Houston as a fourth-round selection (102nd overall) in the 1991 NFL Draft from Iowa State. Robertson was a first-team All-Pro selection at free safety in 1993 and 1997. He finished his career by appearing in 162 regular season games (144 starts), collecting 24 INTs, 72 passes defensed, 11 fumble recoveries, nine forced fumbles and 795 tackles (638 solo). Following his playing days, Robertson spent four seasons (2003-06) as the Titans director of player development before starting his coaching career. He and his staff won the Winston and Shell Award in 2006 for their innovation and commitment to player development in the NFL.
During his four seasons at Iowa State as a cornerback, Robertson totaled 257 tackles, six INTs and nine forced fumbles. He was inducted into the Iowa State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Robertson earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Bethel University in 2012. He and his wife, Holly, have two daughters, Morgan and Milan and a son, Marcus Andrew.
Marcus Robertson Coaching Breakdown
Year School/Team Position
2007–08 Tennessee Titans Assistant Secondary
2009–11 Tennessee Titans Secondary
2012 Detroit Lions Assistant Secondary
2013 Detroit Lions Secondary
2014 Oakland Raiders Assistant Defensive Backs
2015–16 Oakland Raiders Defensive Backs
2017–18 Denver Broncos Defensive Backs
2019– ARIZONA CARDINALS Defensive Backs
1991–2000 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans Defensive Back
2001–02 Seattle Seahawks Defensive Back
