National Football League

Jaguars keep Tucker, hire Bratkowski

Published Jan. 13, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Jacksonville Jaguars have retained defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and hired Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach Bob Bratkowski as offensive coordinator.

New coach Mike Mularkey made the hires late Thursday, his first personnel decisions since taking over Tuesday.

The Jaguars wanted to keep Tucker all along. He was interim coach after Jack Del Rio was fired in November and interviewed for the head job. Tucker also interviewed to be Minnesota's defensive coordinator.

Jacksonville's defense flourished under Tucker last season, finishing sixth in the league despite several key injuries.

Bratkowski spent last year working with Mularkey in Atlanta. Before that, he spent 10 seasons as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator and got credit for helping mentor quarterback Carson Palmer. The Jaguars are looking to turn Blaine Gabbert into a franchise quarterback.