After missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, the Cincinnati Bengals faced criticism for their decision to retain their head coach and general manager. Despite achieving success with them in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, they have gradually regressed. Their 6-11 record in 2025 was their worst since 2020. They were the only team in the AFC North to retain their head for the upcoming season.
In response to the disappointing season, team president Mike Brown released a statement in which he said he was committed to winning. That statement received some negative feedback from the Bengals fan base. Reporter and Bengals fan Sean Ross Sapp replied, “Please sell the team.” Another fan replied, “Of course they don’t fire Tobin or Taylor. Here comes another losing season. Nobody has it worse than Bengals fans.”
Now, the season has long been over for the Bengals, but the the criticism regarding the team’s decisions remains
Cincinnati Bengals Criticized Over Draft Decision
The AFC Championship between the Broncos and the Patriots was a snow-filled slogfest that saw a total of 17 points being scored. In those types of games, trench play is usually the reason a team wins. One of the top performers on the Patriots defensive line is Christian Barmore. Despite experiencing blood clots and missing most of the 2024 season, Barmore has been instrumental in the Patriots’ defensive success that has guided them to the Super Bowl. For Bengals fans, his success can only be seen as a missed opportunity.
After Barmore’s success in the AFC Championship, Bengals analyst Joe Goodberry used the opportunity to criticize Cincinnati for not drafting him. He posted on X, “Christian Barmore was drafted 38th overall in 2021. He was 9th overall on our Draft Sheet. Imagine our shock when the Bengals traded back instead of taking him.” Some Bengals fans replied, reminding Goodberry that the offensive line was the primary issue the team needed to address at that time, to which Goodbery replied “Draft players, not needs.”
Not only did the Bengals pass up on Barmore in that draft, they traded their second-round selection to New England, which they used to take the talented defensive lineman. With their next selection, the Bengals selected offensive lineman Jackson Carman. Carman was released with a year left on his rookie deal and did not start a game for Cincinnati after his rookie season.
Bengals Upcoming Draft
If the 2021 NFL Draft is a reminder for the Bengals, sometimes going with the right player is more important than addressing a need. Their current roster has some glaring defensive needs, but perhaps it is better if Cincinnati takes the best prospect and not one to simply fit their needs.
Regarding their biggest need, ESPN deemed it to be their pass rush. They wrote, “Add juice to the pass rush. Cincinnati’s young pass rushers showed promise at the end of the season, but they still finished last in pass rush win rate over the year. Recreating the magic of 2021, when Cincinnati added Larry Ogunjobi as an interior pass rusher, could be critical to improving the defense.”
Bengals Face Criticism After Playoff Results