Following his departure from the Raiders, Jackson continued to build his coaching resume by taking on various assistant coaching roles. He joined the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012 as an assistant defensive backs coach and special teams assistant. His versatility and knowledge of the game soon earned him a promotion to running backs coach in 2013. Jackson's work with the Bengals' running game was well-regarded, and in 2014, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Bengals' offense showed marked improvement, helping the team secure playoff berths.
In 2016, Jackson was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. His time with the Browns, however, was challenging. The team struggled to find success on the field, and Jackson's first season ended with a 1-15 record. The following year, the Browns failed to win a single game, finishing 0-16. Despite these setbacks, Jackson was retained for the 2018 season. However, after a 2-5-1 start, he was dismissed midway through the season.
Jackson's coaching career during this period was characterized by both opportunities and challenges.
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