The Cincinnati Bengals did not have the season they were hoping for in 2025, and yet, changes haven’t exactly been getting made at the sort of breakneck speed we’ve seen across the league. Zac Taylor is the only AFC North coach who managed to hold onto his job this offseason, and while he ultimately stayed put, he has been making some changes to his coaching staff.
While injuries played a big role in derailing the Bengals’ season, they weren’t all that consistent even when they got superstar quarterback Joe Burrow back on the field late in the season. As a result, Taylor is looking to add some new voices to his coaching staff, and he recently made a move that will surely catch the attention of Cincy’s star wide receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Bengals Hire Davis Koetter as Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Koetter had been at Texas for two years and at South Carolina as an analyst last year.
When Cincinnati’s offense is fully healthy and operating at full capacity, it is one of the most dangerous units in the league. Burrow’s chemistry with Chase and Higgins in the air puts a bind on opposing defenses, and Chase Brown has quickly turned himself into a solid running back who can pick up yards on the ground when needed.
The main issue is that these guys have all struggled to stay on the field for extended periods of time with each other. But again, even when Burrow returned from a toe injury late in 2025, the offense looked disjointed. The struggles of the offensive line certainly didn’t help, but this looked like a group that needed to change things up.
While it’s not exactly a groundbreaking hire, the Bengals recently brought in a guy who could help the offense get back on track. That would be former South Carolina Gamecocks analyst Davis Koetter, who is the son of former NFL head coach Dirk Koetter. After getting hired by Cincinnati to join Taylor’s staff, the younger Koetter will be working as the team’s assistant wide receivers coach in 2026.
“The Bengals are hiring Davis Koetter — son of former NFL coach Dirk Koetter — as their assistant wide receivers coach, per source,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported in a post on X. “Koetter had been at Texas for two years and at South Carolina as an analyst last year.”
Bengals Looking to Get Offense Back on Track in 2026
GettyCincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow.
The problem for the Bengals when it comes to upgrading their roster is that money is tight. The team has invested so much in Burrow, Chase, and Higgins that it has made it tough to allocate funds to other areas of need. Once again, the front office will have to figure out what to do with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has been upset with his contract situation for what feels like years now.
Cincinnati has a lot of needs it has to fill this offseason. Offensively, the o-line needs help, and pretty much every spot on the defensive side of the ball will need help, especially if Hendrickson finally winds up on a new team. It’s good that the Bengals have gotten some help for Chase, Higgins, and the rest of their wide receivers, but that position is probably the least of their concerns right now.
Bengals Star Wide Receivers Ja’Marr Chase & Tee Higgins Have a New Coach