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CLEVELAND (AP) — Chris Tabor has survived another Browns coaching purge.
Cleveland's special teams coordinator since 2011, Tabor is being retained by new Browns coach Hue Jackson.
Tabor joined the Browns five years ago when he was hired by then-coach Pat Shurmur. He's also worked under Rob Chudzkinski, Mike Pettine and will now handle special teams for Jackson, who was named Cleveland's eighth coach since 1999 earlier this week.
"Chris is an outstanding coach," said Jackson, Cincinnati's offensive coordinator the past two seasons. "He is incredibly knowledgeable and possesses the passion necessary to motivate his unit. They play hard and tough while paying attention to all the details and nuances that make the huge impact needed to win on special teams."
For all the Browns' troubles over the past few seasons, Tabor's special teams units have been among the league's best. Under Tabor, the Browns lead the league in punt return average (11.3) in the past five seasons. In 2015, the Browns finished fourth in punt return average and fifth in kickoff return yards and total kick return yards.
While in Cleveland, Tabor has helped return specialist Josh Cribbs, kicker Phil Dawson and gunner Johnson Bademosi make the Pro Bowl.
"Great move In my opinion by #HueJackson keeping Special Teams coach Chris Tabor," Cribbs said on Twitter. "It's game of chess, an (sic) Hue just made a solid move!"
Tabor spent three seasons with the Chicago Bears before joining the Browns.
"My family and I really love it here in Cleveland," Tabor said. "It's great to be able to stay in one place for such a long period of time, keep your system in place and continue to coach some the same players."
Jackson is in the process of assembling his staff and could keep a few other assistants who worked for Pettine, fired after a 3-13 season.
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