USC Trojans

Report: USC wanted to interview Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson

Published Dec. 1, 2015 11:25 p.m. ET

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Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson's head coaching aspirations will have to wait until the offseason.

The USC Trojans wanted a chance to interview Jackson for their head coaching vacancy, but the timing wasn't right, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Trojans removed the interim tag from Clay Helton on Monday and gave him a five-year deal to remain as head coach.

Jackson, who was a finalist for the Bills job last season, has been an assistant with the Bengals since 2012, when he was dismissed after one season as the Raiders head coach. Jackson has been the offensive coordinator the past two seasons and has Andy Dalton playing the best football of his career. Taking the job would likely would have required leaving the 9-2 Bengals immediately, something that Jackson obviously wouldn't consider.

Jackson does have roots with USC, serving as its offensive coordinator from 1997-2000, when he helped recruit Carson Palmer. Jackson's name will undoubtedly come up again this coming offseason when the coaching carousel begins to spin.

h/t: Cincy Jungle