According to Jason La Canfora, the Chicago Bears have hired former Jacksonville Jaguars assistant coach Mel Tucker as their new defensive coordinator. Tucker will be replacing Rod Marinelli, who left the Bears earlier on Friday.

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Bears are hiring Mel Tucker to be their new defensive coordinator. Being finalized — Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 18, 2013

Tucker was hired by the Jaguars in 2009 as the team's defensive coordinator and has coached the team's defense to a ranking as high as No. 6 in 2011. He interviewed with the Jaguars for the team's head coaching position before the 2011 season, but was passed up when the team hired Mike Mularkey, and he interviewed once again before the 2012 season, but was passed up again when the team hired former Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

It was rumored that Tucker was going to leave if he didn't get the head coach position with the Jaguars and now those rumors are apparently true. Tucker has coached for the Jaguars and Browns since making the jump from college football to the NFL.