Mora completes Hawks staff by hiring Lewis as DB coach

[SeaPatsy]

New Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora completed his coaching staff on Thursday, hiring Tim Lewis as the team’s new defensive backs coach.

Lewis served as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive backs coach the last two seasons, and fills the position left vacant when Mora officially took over head coaching duties over a week ago.

Lewis was rumored as a possible candidate for defensive coordinator of the Panthers after Mike Trgovac decided not to return to Carolina on Wednesday. However, Lewis’ departure leaves five defensive coaching vacancies on the Panthers’ staff.

Lewis will see a familiar face when he joins Seattle’s staff; his brother, Will Lewis, serves as the team’s pro personnel director.

Tim Lewis has worked as an NFL coach for 14 seasons, including seven as a defensive coordinator. Lewis served as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coordinator from 2000 to 2003. The Steelers’ defense finished seventh overall in Lewis’ first season and led the league in total defense the next year. Pittsburgh’s defense finished in the top 10 all four years Lewis served as the team’s coordinator.

Lewis then became the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2006.

A cornerback and the 11th overall draft choice out of Pitt in 1983 by the Green Bay Packers, Lewis played four seasons in the NFL, finishing with 16 interceptions in 51 games. His playing career ended early because of a neck injury he suffered in the third game of the 1986 season against Chicago.