Hue Jackson is back with the Bengals!
The Bengals’ former offensive coordinator turned Browns head coach was fired in Cleveland in October. After a brief stint on the unemployment list, Jackson was offered a role in Cincinnati where he’ll be re-joining the Bengals’ coaching staff. His role is going to be Special Assistant to the Head Coach, the Bengals announced on Tuesday.
“Jackson’s role is apparently going to focus on helping (Marvin) Lewis assimilate his head-coaching duties with managing and calling the defense,” per Geoff Hobson.
As you could expect, the reactions are mixed.
Jackson was an effective offensive coordinator in Cincinnati but he was a miserable head coach in Cleveland. Prior to leaving the Bengals, Jackson was offered a “head coach in waiting” type role for when Marvin Lewis steps down (in theory) from the Bengals’ head coaching job. But, Jackson turned that down to take on an immediate opportunity in Cleveland. Now, he’s back in Cincinnati after failing with the Browns and the man who many thought would be the new “head coach in waiting” was fired on Monday when the Bengals parted ways with defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Lewis plans to take on the defensive coordinator responsibilities, but now he’ll have some help from his good friend, Jackson.
My take: I like Jackson re-joining the staff as long as it only includes him being an assistant. I do not like Jackson re-joining the staff if it means he’s the first in line to become head coach if Lewis ever is fired or steps down. A big part of the reason I believe Lewis wasn’t fired last year was because Bengals owner Mike Brown had no one he trusted (ie: a former assistant coach/coordinator) to name head coach. People who would’ve fallen into that category would be: Jackson, Mike Zimmer, Jay Gruden, or Vance Joseph, for example.
With Jackson back in the fold, it becomes a scary possibility that he could one day (relatively soon) become the Bengals head coach. I do not want a day to come where Jackson is named head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
But, what do you all think?
For starters, Browns fans seem happy about this move as they are not fans of Jackson.
As a Browns fan I can guarantee you we like the move even more than you do. https://t.co/hW4eoZXnEu
— Dawgs By Nature (@DawgsByNature) November 13, 2018
Hue does not even know who Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson are,
— Karl Stahnke (@Karl123459) November 13, 2018
Put all your money on the Browns in 2 weeks
— david reber (@TheReber007) November 13, 2018
Here’s what those in the Cincinnati community have to say about the move:
— Sam Greene (@SGdoesit) November 13, 2018
I'm OK with it (and expected it). I think he enhances the coaching staff under Marvin Lewis. https://t.co/Kwksn9Iz7u
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 13, 2018
Assistant to the regional manager is still available. https://t.co/fAK76wIhCY
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 13, 2018
pull tf up https://t.co/07dU7JwJZR
— john sheeran (@John__Sheeran) November 13, 2018
That 2015 roster was amazing and stayed perfectly healthy. We all weren't too crazy about him in 2014. The previous stint included getting put into a headlock by the Bengals star receiver at halftime of their playoff game. https://t.co/egw79k8jJc
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) November 13, 2018
hue has deflected blame, lied, mismanaged personnel, lied some more, lost, lost a few more times, lost plenty more times after that, and then lied some more
— john sheeran (@John__Sheeran) November 13, 2018
he's perfect for here
Because he made the worst team in the NFL worse and then blamed everyone else on the way out. He also tried to give away premium picks for AJ McCarron. https://t.co/1UdX13pzmw
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) November 13, 2018
Hue didn't understand Cleveland. They've gotten substantially better since he left and most of it is because they're using the same players correctly now. https://t.co/vROblUqkSm
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) November 13, 2018
i haven't felt any real emotion about the bengals since the playoff game.
— john sheeran (@John__Sheeran) November 13, 2018
they just made the worst head coach in football history their de facto heir to the team.
they're trying their best to make me feel again.
Ladies and gentlemen: presenting the 2015 Bengals reunion tour!
— Anthony Cosenza (@CJAnthonyCUI) November 13, 2018
Lap: I'll say this about Hue....every position he has coached on this team got better." #Bengals
— Lance McAlister (@LanceMcAlister) November 13, 2018
Maybe the Bengals are hiring Hue Jackson because they have two games left against the Browns this season and they need someone with experience slowing Baker Mayfield down on the football field.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 13, 2018
Nathan Peterman loses his job on the same day that Hue Jackson gets a new one.
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) November 13, 2018
The NFL keeps its balance of easy jokes intact.
Hue Jackson has the ultra rare shot at beating or losing to his former team as many times as he won with his former team in the same league year. pic.twitter.com/CvSUfMJ7lo
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 13, 2018
Hue Jackson is coming back to the Bengals staff?! SUPER BOWL BACK ON!!! #WHODEY
— Anthony Milburn (@tonymilkbone) November 13, 2018
— Mark Schwab (@MarkSchwab) November 13, 2018
As long as he doesn’t become head coach when Marvin goes
— Joseph Gryniewski (@JoetotheG27) November 13, 2018
Can’t hurt at this point, we still play the browns twice and He’s good with Marvin.
— jake (@JuicyJake_) November 13, 2018
— Jonathan Watson (@spidamann) November 13, 2018
Every time Hue and Marvin are together,the Bengals are or are close to being a playoff team.
— Jamie ⚔️ ◾️ (@trequartbeasta) November 13, 2018
That's a good place to start from.
— Kevin McCune (@KevinMcCune) November 13, 2018
Hue deserves this job, the Bengals owe Secret Agent Hue a spot after he tried to hoodwink the Browns in that AJ McCarron trade
— The Battleship (@theUDbattleship) November 13, 2018
He actually is a great coordinator and asst coach look at track record in 2010 as offensive cordinator and 2011 as head coach of raiders they had a really good offense
— edward (@cincydey97) November 13, 2018
Glad the @Browns still have to play them twice pic.twitter.com/2mpJGFG4qS
— Matthew (@MadMatt7783) November 13, 2018
Assistant to the regional manager is still available. https://t.co/fAK76wIhCY
— Josh Kirkendall (@Josh_Kirkendall) November 13, 2018
Getting the gang back together! #Bengals https://t.co/Rur2AEijQO
— Ohio Sports Fan (@OSU_Bengals) November 13, 2018
Here are some national media responses:
Maybe the Bengals are hiring Hue Jackson because they have two games left against the Browns this season and they need someone with experience slowing Baker Mayfield down on the football field.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 13, 2018
Nathan Peterman loses his job on the same day that Hue Jackson gets a new one.
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) November 13, 2018
The NFL keeps its balance of easy jokes intact.
Hue Jackson has the ultra rare shot at beating or losing to his former team as many times as he won with his former team in the same league year. pic.twitter.com/CvSUfMJ7lo
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 13, 2018
Hue Jackson is coming back to the Bengals staff?! SUPER BOWL BACK ON!!! #WHODEY
— Anthony Milburn (@tonymilkbone) November 13, 2018
Oh my https://t.co/92UO10fSfH
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) November 13, 2018
— Melissa Jacobs (@thefootballgirl) November 13, 2018
What do you think?
Poll
What do you think of the Bengals’ decision to add Hue Jackson to the coaching staff?
This poll is closed
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51%
Like it
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34%
Whatever
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13%
Hate it