Buccaneers hire former Browns coach Amos Jones

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the hire of assistant special teams coach Amos Jones. Jones served as the special teams coordinator with the Cleveland Browns last season.

Pro Football Focus ranked Cleveland’s special teams unit the worst in the NFL last season.

“Amos Jones was named special teams coordinator on Jan. 24, 2018. He has 37 years of experience as a coach on the high school, college and professional levels.

Jones served as the special teams coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-17. During his five seasons at Arizona, Jones helped Justin Bethel (2013-15) and Budda Baker (2017) to Pro Bowl selections as special teams players. In 2014, kicker Chandler Catanzaro tied the NFL record for the most consecutive field goals to begin a career with 17 and set a Cardinals rookie record with 114 points. The 2014 Cardinals kickoff coverage unit also ranked fourth in the league with an opponent average drive start at the 20 yard line. In 2013, punter Dave Zastudil tied for the NFL lead with 35 punts inside the 20-yard line, while Drew Butler did the same the following year with 34,” his bio reads.

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The Browns announced the hire of special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, a Cleveland native, Monday. It was a bit surprising that new head coach Freddie Kitchens parted ways with Jones. The two coaches had a connection from their time with the Arizona Cardinals on Bruce Arians’ staff. It was Arians, the new head coach with the Buccaneers, who provided a safe haven for Jones.

Jones is not the only former Cleveland coach on the move. Former interim head coach and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been hired by the New York Jets. It would come as a surprise if defensive line coach Clyde Simmons was not hired elsewhere as well.