Bengals tab Jackson offensive coordinator

Published 3:37 am Friday, January 10, 2014

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Bengals didn’t wait long or look far for their next offensive coordinator, promoting Hue Jackson on Thursday shortly after Jay Gruden was introduced as the next head coach in Washington.

Jackson has brought his career full-circle in Cincinnati, where he coached the wide receivers from 2004-06. He was Oakland’s head coach in 2011 and pushed for the trade that brought quarterback Carson Palmer from Cincinnati at midseason in exchange for a first-round and second-round draft pick.

The Raiders finished 8-8 and failed to reach the playoffs that season, resulting in Jackson’s firing. He returned to Cincinnati as an assistant, and coached the running backs last season.

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The Bengals won the AFC North with an 11-5 mark but lost their opening playoff game for the third straight season, tying the NFL record. Andy Dalton had three second-half turnovers during a 27-10 loss to San Diego at Paul Brown Stadium.

Gruden coordinated the Bengals’ West Coast offense each of the last three seasons and helped Dalton and receiver A.J. Green develop into one of the best young pass-and-catch tandems in the league. He was hired as the Redskins’ head coach on Thursday.

“We are blessed to have a staff that allows us to promote from within,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “It keeps some of the continuity with our offensive team, yet we get new direction and fire from an aggressive and innovative coaching mind. Hue’s expertise in all aspects of football and coaching is very wide.”

The Bengals finished the season with the 10th-ranked offense in the NFL. The offense flourished at home and often struggled on the road. Cincinnati won all eight home games during the regular season, tying the club record.

Dalton set club records for touchdown passes and yards passing last season, but his struggles in the playoffs continued. In three playoff games, he has thrown only one touchdown pass with four interceptions.

Jackson also has been the offensive coordinator for the Redskins, Falcons and Raiders.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer also is interviewing for head coaching jobs. Cincinnati’s defense finished No. 3 in the league last season.