Marvin Lewis: Hue Jackson 'More Than Qualified' to Be Bengals' Next Head Coach

On his final day as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Marvin Lewis endorsed Hue Jackson as his potential replacement. 

The Bengals announced a mutual parting of ways with Lewis on Monday after he spent 16 seasons with the franchise. 

Per ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell, Lewis spoke about Jackson's qualifications to become Cincinnati's next head coach:

"I think he's more than qualified," Lewis said. "I think he's been in a couple of difficult situations [in Oakland and Cleveland], and that's tough, and it hasn't broke his way. But I think he's an excellent football coach, he's a great motivator, he's detailed. So I think he deserves an opportunity, if not here, somewhere else."

Jackson had three different stints over parts of eight seasons working on Lewis' coaching staff in Cincinnati. 

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the Bengals plan to interview Jackson, along with special teams coach Darrin Simmons and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor as they conduct their search for Lewis' replacement.

After being fired by the Cleveland Browns in October, Jackson was hired by the Bengals as a special assistant to Lewis for the final seven games in 2018. 

Jackson's resume as a head coach leaves a lot to be desired, particularly his two-plus seasons with the Browns. He went 8-8 in 2011 with the Oakland Raiders, but was just 3-36-1 in Cleveland. His .205 career win percentage is the second worst by a head coach in NFL history. 

The Bengals have posted three straight losing seasons since making the postseason in five straight years from 2011-15. The franchise has lost eight straight playoff games dating back to 1991, the second-longest active streak in the NFL after the Detroit Lions (nine).