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Ex-Browns HC Hue Jackson Joins Bengals Staff as Special Assistant to Head Coach
Hue Jackson is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals' coaching staff.
The Bengals announced Tuesday that Jackson will join the team as special assistant to the head coach. He served as the Bengals' offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015 before he became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, who fired him Oct. 29 after he posted a 3-36-1 record.
This isn't the first time Jackson has landed with the Bengals after he was fired as a head coach.
He led the Oakland Raiders to an 8-8 record in 2011 but was relieved of his duties prior to the 2012 campaign. Cincinnati hired him as a special teams and secondary assistant in 2012 and moved him to running backs coach in 2013 before he ascended to the offensive coordinator role.
Fletcher Page of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted he and Marvin Lewis are still "close friends."
Monday has been a day of change for the Bengals' staff, as Josina Anderson of ESPN reported they fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. Adam Schefter of ESPN noted Lewis will take over defensive coordinator responsibilities.
Despite a 51-14 home loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Cincinnati is still in the AFC playoff race at 5-4. The Bengals are chasing the 6-2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North and are tied with the Tennessee Titans for the final wild-card spot.
The offense has been solid (11th in points per game), and it was seventh in the league in 2015 when Jackson was the offensive coordinator.
While he hasn't found success as a head coach, Jackson helped lead the Bengals to the playoffs all four years he was on the staff.