title: Michael Hodges (American football)
text: # Michael Hodges (American football)
  
  Michael Hodges (born September 29, 1986) is an American football coach who is the linebackers coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).
  
  ## Playing career
  
  Hodges initially played college football at the United States Air Force Academy, before transferring to Blinn College in Brenham, Texas before opting to walk-on at Texas A&M. As a senior, he was awarded the Aggie Heart Award, the highest honor given to a senior.
  
  ## Coaching career
  
  After his playing career ended, Hodges worked as a strength & conditioning assistant at Texas A&M while he worked on his master's degree. He then went on to coach at Fresno State as a graduate assistant working with the inside linebackers from 2012 to 2013. Hodges was hired to coach linebackers at Eastern Illinois in 2014, and was eventually promoted to co-defensive coordinator in 2016.
  
  ### New Orleans Saints
  
  Hodges was hired by the New Orleans Saints in 2017 to work as a defensive assistant. He was promoted to assistant linebackers coach in 2019.
  
  He was promoted to linebackers coach in 2020 following the departure of Mike Nolan.
  
  ## Personal life
  
  A native of Helotes, Texas, Hodges graduated from Texas A&M University with both a BS in Sports Management and a master's degree in marketing. He and his wife Ashley have two children.
  
  