Hue Jackson is the new head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Browns owners Jimmy Haslam and his wife Dee named Jackson, who is a 29-year coaching veteran with 15 years of experience in the NFL, as the team's 16th head coach Wednesday.
“What a tremendous honor and privilege to be the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and a part of the Dawg Pound,” Jackson said. “I’m so looking forward to it and have so many people to thank. Obviously Jimmy and Dee Haslam for this opportunity, going through the process of meeting Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta. What an exciting time to have an opportunity to work with people like that.”
ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news of Jackson's deal being finalized on Twitter Wednesday.
Browns now finalizing deal to hire Bengals OC Hue Jackson as their next HC, per sources. Close to being wrapped up, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2016
Looks like Browns will get done deal with Hue Jackson before he gets on flight to New York for interview with the Giants, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2016
NFL.com's Michael Silver also reported the news, saying Jackson told him, "they just made me feel comfortable."
Hue Jackson will become the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns. "They made me feel comfortable," he just told me.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 13, 2016
Jackson, 50, was first interviewed by the team on Sunday shortly after he visited with the San Francisco 49ers. He was the seventh of seven candidates to interview for the position over a five-day stretch.
“It’s very exciting for us to name Hue Jackson as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns,” Jimmy Haslam said. “He embodies all the qualities that will provide strong leadership for our football team. He is highly experienced, deeply passionate about winning, and relentless in trying to find ways to put his players in the best position to succeed. He possesses that unique ability to reach the entire locker room in a way that demands accountability while getting the buy-in and team-first mentality that leads to positive results. I think our players will love playing for him. Dee and I warmly welcome Hue and his family to Cleveland.”
He led the Oakland Raiders to an 8-8 record in 2011. Then, when he was fired in 2012, Jackson joined Marvin Lewis' staff in Cincinnati as the secondary coach. He coached the Bengals running backs in 2013 before taking over Cincinnati's offense the past two seasons.
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Learn more about Jackson's background by visiting clevelandbrowns.com.
