The Bengals turn to a familiar face today to replace another when the well-credentialed Hue Jackson moves into the spot vacated by the retirement of running backs coach Jim Anderson. Head coach Marvin Lewis compensates for the loss of Anderson, the NFL’s longest-tenured assistant coach during 29 seasons coaching Bengals backs from James Brooks to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, with one of his closest coaching colleagues. Lewis and Jackson begin working together in Washington, in 2002 where Jackson breaks into the NFL as the running backs coach before becoming a head coach and offensive coordinator with three clubs. Lewis shows his confidence in him 11 years later when he gives him the title of special assistant to the head coach to go with the running backs duties under third-year offensive coordinator Jay Gruden and his desire to improve an offense that dropped from 20th to 22nd in the NFL rankings
This is Jackson's third appearance as a Bengals assistant.