Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the Bengals plan to conduct interviews soon with in-house head coach candidates including Hue Jackson, STs coordinator Darrin Simmons and OC Bill Lazor for their head-coaching job.
- Sources tell Mike Garafolo that they believe Simmons has a real good shot at getting the job.
Reports have said for months now that Jackson is viewed as a potential successor to Marvin Lewis, who will no longer serve as the team’s head coach, so this doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
On Monday, Lewis said Jackson is “more than qualified” for the job.
“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, 53, began his NFL coaching career back in 2001 as the Redskins RBs coach. He worked for the Bengals, Falcons and Ravens before he was hired by the Raiders as their offensive coordinator in 2010.
Jackson was later promoted to head coach but lasted one season at the helm. After four years with the Bengals, Jackson was hired as the Browns head coach in 2016 but lasted just over three years in Cleveland.
The Bengals hired Jackson as a special assistant to HC Marvin Lewis.
During his time as the Browns’ head coach, Jackson led them to a record of 3-36-1 (8.8 percent) and no playoff appearances.
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