Bengals hire Mark Carrier as assistant coach

CINCINNATI - The Bengals have hired former New York Jets assistant Mark Carrier as their defensive backs coach, filling a spot that opened when Kevin Coyle went to the Miami Dolphins as defensive coordinator.

The Bengals also promoted assistant Paul Guenther to linebackers coach on Monday, replacing Jeff FitzGerald.

Carrier played safety for 11 years with Chicago, Detroit and Washington. He has spent the last six years as an assistant -- four as the Ravens' defensive backs coach and the last two as the defensive line coach with New York.

“Mark is a great choice for us as he moves back to his old position, coaching the defensive secondary,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “He experienced success as a coach with two fine NFL defenses, and he will do very well with our group.”

Guenther has been with the Bengals in various assistant roles for the last eight seasons. He helped with special teams and defensive backs last season.

“Paul is very deserving of this opportunity to continue advancing and to coach a position of his own,” Lewis said. “Mike Zimmer (Bengals defensive coordinator) and I both have high confidence levels working with Paul, and we’re excited about what he can bring our defense in this new role.”

Last season, Guenther helped coach the Bengals defense to a No. 7 NFL ranking (316.3 yards allowed per game). He has worked closely with Zimmer, particularly on blitz techniques, and last season the Bengals ranked fifth in the NFL in sacks (45). In 2010, he helped tutor a starting LB trio that finished 1-2-3 on the team in tackles.

Zimmer interviewed for head coaching jobs after the season, but will return to Cincinnati.