NFL: Bengals bring back Hue Jackson

Hue Jackson was with the Cleveland Browns not long after his release without a job. Jackson is to join the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff with immediate effect.

This is what NFL network insider Ian Rapoport reports. It is not yet completely clear what role Jackson will play under head coach Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati; but the ex-Browns coach will immediately start working for the Bengals.

Lewis and Jackson already know each other very well. In recent years, Jackson has served as Lewis Wide Receiver Coach from 2004 to 2006 as well as Secondary Assistant Coach, Special Teams Coach, Running Backs Coach and finally Offensive Coordinator between 2012 and 2015 – before assuming the Head Coach position in Cleveland.

Lewis himself had already indicated a few hours earlier that an agreement with Jackson was in the offing – you “have a plan,” Lewis told reporters at his press conference in response to questions about Jackson: “Just wait. The Bengals are thus continuing to push ahead with a change in their own coaching staff; earlier on Monday Cincinnati had dismissed Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin, Lewis himself wants to take on a greater role again in the coaching of defense.

However, Hue Jackson’s commitment also comes with an interesting aftertaste: The Bengals play twice against Jackson’s ex-team Cleveland between week 12 and week 16.