CINCINNATI (AP) -Jeff FitzGerald was hired by the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday as linebackers coach, a role he held at Baltimore the last three seasons.
FitzGerald follows former Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer to the Bengals as coach Marvin Lewis works on a struggling defense. The Bengals missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
Four Ravens linebackers – Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and Adalius Thomas – were chosen for the 2006 Pro Bowl and the Ravens have been among the NFL leaders on defense throughout the decade. Last season, the defense ranked second against the run (79.3 yards per game) and sixth overall (301.6 yards per game).
The Bengals, who fired defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley after a 7-9 season, were 27th in yards allowed and gave up 385 points.
FitzGerald, a native of Burbank, Calif., played linebacker at Oregon State and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati. The 15-year NFL coach also has worked for Tampa Bay, Washington and Arizona.
He joined the Ravens in 2004 as outside linebackers coach and moved up to linebackers coach in 2005.
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