Following a disappointing 6-11 season, the Cincinnati Bengals announced they will make no changes to their general manager and head coach. Team president Mike Brown released a statement in which he confirmed their status heading into next season and expressed confidence in the pair as he believed they have the capabilities to build a team that is capable of competing for championships.
After that news, head coach Zac Taylor gave his end-of-the-season press conference. During that press conference, he said that he expected no changes to be made on the coaching staff. At the time, that made news as rumors had previously surfaced about defensive coordinator Al Golden being let go. However, the possibility of another Bengals coordinator leaving soon became apparent.
Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Coordinator Staying
After posting a top-12 offense for the second consecutive year, and doing so without having Joe Burrow for a large portion of the season, people began looking toward the Bengals’ offensive coaching staff. That resulted in offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher being a candidate for the Cleveland Browns head-coaching vacancy.
The Browns opted not to move forward with Pitcher following his interview. However, that did not end the possibility of Pitcher leaving Cincinnati. Pitcher explored the possibility of changing teams in a lateral move, as despite being the offensive coordinator, head coach Zac Taylor is the team’s play caller. The Bengals granted Pitcher’s request and allowed him to interview with the Buccaneers. Fortunately for Cincinnati, the good news is Tampa Bay hired Zac Robinson as their new offensive coordinator.
One person who is most likely happy about this news is Bengals starting quarterback Joe Burrow. Regarding Pitcher, he had previously said, “Our relationship is as good as it gets, I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him. He’s been preparing for this for years. He takes his job very seriously and does it with a lot of passion.”
Bengals Coaching Staff
The Bengals were the lone AFC North team to retain their head coach heading into the 2026 season. Despite making headlines about not having fun during the season, Burrow seems to have no issue with the continuity. He said, “I’m very confident in our coaching staff, I know those guys work really hard to put us in good positions, and I always feel well-prepared and put in the best spot to succeed. From that standpoint, I think we’re in a good spot.”
Regarding the continuity on the Bengals’ coaching staff, ESPN’s Ben Baby wrote, “The continuity among the coaching staff and on the roster should give Cincinnati more time to focus on improving the on-field product ahead of what will be the most scrutinized and crucial season in recent franchise history.
Whether keeping Pitcher and the coaching staff ends up being a good thing remains to be seen. However, it is always a positive development when a head coach gets his desired outcome for his staff, and this is what has happened in this situation for Zac Taylor.
Bengals Get Good News After Season