John Harbaugh thinks the Cleveland Browns got it right with their latest head-coaching hire.
Cleveland hired Hue Jackson Wednesday, and Harbaugh praised the addition of his former assistant.
"I think it's a great hire by the Browns," Harbaugh said after speaking at the Pathfinders for Autism leadership conference at Towson University.
"[He is] creative and hard-nosed at the same time. He's going to have those guys fired up and they're going to love playing for him."
Jackson, 50, was on Harbaugh's staff as the quarterbacks coach during the head coach's first two years in Baltimore, and Jackson played a key role in Joe Flacco's early development.
"I'm really proud of Hue," Harbaugh said. "We had a couple of great years here when he was here early on. Every time we see each other before games and stuff, he gives me a hug and we talk a little bit."
Jackson became the Raiders offensive coordinator when he left Baltimore and ultimately spent a year as Oakland's head coach. He returned to the AFC North in 2012 and has spent the last four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jackson was Cincinnati's offensive coordinator the last two years, and the Ravens went 0-4 against the Bengals during the stretch.
"We haven't found a way to beat him the last couple years, so that sticks in my craw. I haven't forgotten that too much," Harbaugh said. "Now he's going to be in Cleveland, and it just makes the division that much tougher."
