Bengals lose Tem Lukabu to Boston College defensive coordinator position

Tem Lukabu leaves the Bengals for the college game.

The Cincinnati Bengals will have at least one big point of turnover along its coaching staff going into Year 2 of Zac Taylor.

Linebackers coach Tem Lukabu has decided to take a promotion at the collegiate level to serve as the defensive coordinator for the Boston College Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

Lukabu had joined the Bengals this season alongside Taylor. His unit struggled mightily to start the season but eventually improved when it cut Preston Brown. Both Nick Vigil — and more importantly — rookie Germaine Pratt showed big progress near season’s end.

If Taylor wants to stay in house with replacing Lukabu, Mark Duffner is the obvious choice given his droves of prior experience at the position, with the Bengals and even as a coordinator.

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