CINCINNATI -- The Bengals hired Teryl Austin as their new defensive coordinator and Bob Bicknell to coach their wide receivers, the team announced Monday.
Austin spent the past four seasons as Detroit's defensive coordinator, but his future was in doubt after the Lions fired head coach Jim Caldwell last week. He previously spent 10 seasons as a defensive backs coach in the NFL, helping teams reach three Super Bowl appearances.
"I am excited to add Teryl to our coaching staff as a defensive coordinator," coach Marvin Lewis said in a news release. "He is a bright and aggressive coach with a wealth of experience. I look forward to working alongside him.
NEWS: #Bengals sign Teryl Austin to Defensive Coordinator position pic.twitter.com/6PIEs9Fl7K
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 8, 2018
Austin said in a news release he looks "forward to leading an aggressive group of young men and helping them and the team achieve our goals."
Austin interviewed for Detroit's coaching vacancy last week.
Cincinnati was 18th in the NFL in total defense this past season, nine spots higher than Detroit, although the Lions had 32 takeaways to the Bengals' 14. Austin replaces Paul Guenther, who left the Bengals to join Jon Gruden's staff at Oakland.
In 2014, the Lions became the ninth team in NFL history to finish the season allowing under 70 yards rushing per game. Detroit lost Ndamukong Suh off that team and slipped defensively after that.
Austin was previously a secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens and has also coached defensive backs for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
Bicknell spent 2017 at Baylor University. He has more than 25 years of professional and college-level coaching experience, including 10 NFL seasons in Kansas City, Buffalo, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
NEWS: #Bengals sign Bob Bicknell as wide receivers coach.
Bicknell comes to Cincinnati from Baylor University, where he was WRs coach in 2017. He has 25 years of professional and collegiate coaching experience. pic.twitter.com/WEQq7563Gt
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 8, 2018
Bicknell replaces James Urban, who took the same job with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Bengals didn't disclose the terms of the contracts.
