ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Bills have named Mike Mularkey the 13th coach in franchise history.
He will have the task of repairing a team that ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring offense.
Mularkey, 42, was named Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator on Jan. 5, 2001 after five seasons as Pittsburgh's tight ends coach. During his tenure, the Steelers twice ranked in the top five in the NFL in total offense.
He also has spent two seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. played nine seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Steelers and has worked with Bills general manager Tom Donahoe before.
Donahoe was director of football operations for Pittsburgh when Mularkey played for the Steelers from 1989-91, and was still in that post when Steelers coach Bill Cowher hired Mularkey as tight ends coach in 1996.
He replaces the fired Gregg Williams after a disappointing 6-10 season. Chicago and Oakland still have head coaching vacancies.
