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Hue Jackson begins his first season with the Falcons and second opportunity as an Offensive Coordinator in the NFL in 2007. Jackson was the highly-respected Wide Receivers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals the past three seasons. During his successful time with the Bengals, Jackson molded wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh into one of the most productive receiving tandems in Bengals history and one of the top duos in the League. Last year under the tutelage of Jackson, Johnson (1,369) and Houshmandzadeh (1,081) became the first Bengals teammates to each surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark. Johnson's 1,369 receiving yards led the NFL and marked the fourth consecutive season that he paced the AFC in receiving yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to lead his conference in receiving yards four consecutive seasons.
Through the coaching efforts of Jackson, Johnson has set NFL and several Bengals team records over the years. Johnson established a new League mark for most receiving yards in back-to-back games with 450 in 2006 and a new Bengals record for most receiving yards in a single-game with 260 against San Diego. Johnson has posted the top four receiving yardage games in Cincinnati history and holds the team record for most 100-yard receiving games in a career (21 in just six seasons).
Jackson also saw the fruits of his labor with Houshmandzadeh gain early returns as he helped build the former seventh round draft choice into a key cog in the Bengals offensive machine. Houshmandzadeh enjoyed his most productive years under the watchful eye of Jackson as he recorded progressively better numbers each season. Starting in 2004 with Jackson's arrival, Houshmandzadeh totaled 73 and 78 catch seasons, respectively. And culminating with his 90 catch, 1,081 yard, nine touchdown career year in 2006. Jackson's diligent work with second-year wide receiver Chris Henry produced career-highs in catches (36), yards (605) and touchdowns (9). In 2005, the wideout duo of Johnson-Houshmandzadeh combined to post 175 receptions for 2,388 yards while helping Cincinnati win the AFC North title and reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons. Johnson's 97 receptions were a career-high, besting his previous high of 95 he posted under Jackson's watch in 2004. Together, the wideouts scored 27 of Cincinnatiís 48 touchdowns in 2005 as the team finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (26.3 points per game). The Bengals were also fifth in the league in net passing yards per game (238.8). In 2005, Jackson tutored an impact rookie in third-round draft choice Henry, who had 31 catches for 422 yards. Henry's six touchdown catches were the most by a Bengals rookie since 1985. The 2004 campaign saw Johnson and Houshmandzadeh post 2,252 receiving yards and 168 receptions.
Jackson came to the Bengals from the Washington Redskins, where he was the Running Backs Coach from 2001-02 and Offensive Coordinator in 2003. Jackson called plays for head coach Steve Spurrier as Offensive Coordinator in Washington, the first time Spurrier allowed someone other than himself to handle that task during his head coaching tenure. Jackson was back in the job market in 2004 after Steve Spurrier resigned as Redskins head coach, and was quickly recruited by Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, who had been Jackson's coaching colleague on the Washington staff in 2002. Jackson helped guide Redskins RB Stephen Davis to a career-high 1,432 yards in 2001, and Davis was on pace for another 1,000-yard season in '02 before a shoulder injury prematurely ended his year.
Jackson spent 14 years as a college coach before joining the Redskins. His last college post was as Offensive Coordinator for the University of Southern California from 1997-2000. Jackson's duties in his last three years at USC included the recruiting and early development of Bengals QB Carson Palmer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. Palmer came to USC in 1998.
Jackson began his coaching career in 1987 at his alma mater, the University of the Pacific. After three years there, he moved on to Cal State Fullerton (1990-91), Arizona State ('92-95) and California ('96). At Cal, he was Offensive Coordinator and helped lead the Golden Bears to an Aloha Bowl berth.
He picked up his first year's experience in the pro ranks in the spring of 1991, coaching running backs, wide receivers and special teams for the London Monarchs of the World League. He also had three NFL summer internships, working with the Los Angeles Rams in 1990, the Arizona Cardinals in '92 and the Redskins in '95.
Born October 22, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, Jackson played quarterback at Pacific in 1985-86, throwing for 2,544 yards and 19 touchdowns in his career. He also lettered in basketball in 1986. | 