Hue Jackson is back in Cincinnati.
The former Cleveland Browns head coach is joining the Cincinnati Bengals' coaching staff as special assistant to the head coach, effective immediately, the team announced Tuesday.
"I have a great comfort level with Hue and his ability to assist me with the day-to-day responsibilities on defense, including analyzing our opponents and helping me on game days with the players and defensive coaches," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said.
Jackson was fired by the Browns less than two weeks ago after compiling a 3-36-1 record over two-plus seasons with the team.
The 53-year-old coach has history with Lewis and with the Cincinnati franchise. Jackson was Lewis' wide receivers coach from 2004 to 2006. After one season as the Oakland Raiders head coach in 2010, Jackson returned to the Cincy coaching staff for four seasons, during which he was a secondary assistant, special teams coach, running backs coach and offensive coordinator.
On Monday, the Bengals fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin one day after his defense took a shellacking at the hands of the New Orleans Saints. Lewis told reporters he will take more of a role in coordinating the defense.
Asked Monday if Jackson would be joining the coaching staff, Lewis said, "Just watch and see." Lewis also told reporters he's "got a plan" regading the shakeup on his staff.
Jackson, it should be noted, has coached just one season on the defensive side of the ball, and the Bengals currently employ Bill Lazor as their offensive coordinator.
