Cleveland Browns hire former Titans assistant Tim Hauck as DBs coach

By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tim Hauck made a lasting impression on Browns President Mike Holmgren and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron when he played safety for them in Green Bay.

Hauck, who was hired Monday as defensive backs coach to replace Jerome Henderson, played four of his 13 NFL seasons in Green Bay (1991-1994), where Holmgren was head coach and Jauron was defensive backs coach. Hauck was a hard-hitting safety who played for seven NFL teams after signing with New England as an undrafted free agent out of Montana.

From 1999-2001, Hauck played in Philadelphia, where Browns head coach Pat Shurmur was tight ends/offensive line coach during those years. Browns General Manager Tom Heckert also spent the 2001 season with Hauck in Philadelphia after he joined the team as director of player personnel that year.

Henderson left to join former Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan in Dallas. In 2011, Henderson -- who spent three seasons with the Browns -- coached the Browns pass defense to a No. 2 ranking, with an average of only 184.9 yards allowed. However, the Browns were tied for second to last in the NFL with nine interceptions.

Hauck most recently was assistant secondary coach of the Titans under Jeff Fisher in 2009-10. Prior to that, he spent five years as a college assistant at his alma mater, Montana (2004-07), and at UCLA (2008).

During Hauck's 13-year playing career, he had stints with New England (1990), Green Bay (1991-94), Denver (1995-96), Seattle (1997), Indianapolis (1998), Philadelphia (1999-2001) and San Francisco (2002). He played 183 regular-season games in addition to eight playoff contests. As an Eagle in 1999, he made the tackle on Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin that ultimately ended Irvin's career with a spinal cord injury.

Hauck is the second assistant added by the Browns. Last week, they hired senior offensive assistant Nolan Cromwell, who formerly worked for Holmgren. Cromwell replaced Keith Gilbertson, who retired.

The Browns are still interviewing offensive coordinator candidates and will talk to some this week in Mobile, Ala. during Senior Bowl festivities. Two names on their radar are Mike Sherman and Brad Childress, but both are also being considered for other jobs. Sherman is a candidate to become Dolphins' offensive coordinator under new coach Joe Philbin, and is also a candidate for the Tampa Bay head coaching job. Childress has mentioned in connection with the Bucs and Colts head jobs.

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