Marvin Lewis, left, and Hue Jackson (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
For Immediate Release
October 30, 2019
Players who compete in the upcoming NFLPA Collegiate Bowl will have the opportunity to glean from 20 years of NFL head coaching experience.
Just a year removed from their third stint serving on the same NFL staff, Hue Jackson and Marvin Lewis will face off as head coaches for the 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. The ninth annual game takes place on January 18, 2020 at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in California and will air live on NFL Network with a kickoff time of 4 p.m. PST/7 p.m. EST.
A Los Angles native, Jackson has built a reputation as a strong offensive mind behind successful coaching stints with the Washington Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders, among others. A handful of NFL players, such as quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, earned Pro Bowl nods under Jackson’s tutelage.
Jackson landed his first NFL head coaching job with the Raiders in 2011 before returning to a Bengals staff led by Lewis. In his final season as offensive coordinator, he was named NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2015 by the Professional Football Writers Association. Jackson then went on to serve as head coach of the Cleveland Browns from 2016 to 2018.
“I’m excited to tackle this unique opportunity of helping mold the next generation of football players at the Collegiate Bowl,” said Jackson, who also spent 13 years as an offensive coach at the college level. “This game is an important step for these young men in learning the game and business of football, and I can’t wait to get started.”
While Lewis’s coaching career has had a similar trajectory, his success was built on the defensive side of the ball. The former Idaho State standout broke into the NFL ranks in 1992 when he was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers to coach their linebackers. In 1996, Lewis was tabbed as defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, building one of the most prolific defensive units in NFL history. His six-year run with the Ravens culminated with a victory in Super Bowl XXXV.
Following one year as assistant head coach of the same Redskins staff that featured Jackson, Lewis took over as head coach of the Bengals in 2003. During his 16 seasons, Lewis led the Bengals to seven playoff appearances and four division titles, earned 2009 AP Coach of the Year honors and set the franchise record for most wins as a head coach with 131.
“My coaching career started at the college level, so it’s always held a special place in my heart” said Lewis, who served as linebackers coach at Idaho State, Long Beach State, New Mexico and Pittsburgh across 11 years. “I’m looking forward to working with some of the country’s best prospects at the Collegiate Bowl and helping prepare them to succeed as professionals.”
For the latest news and updates on the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, visit the game’s website at collegiate.nflpa.com and follow @NFLPABowl on Twitter and Instagram.