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A season-by-season look at Marvin Lewis’ tenure as Cincinnati Bengals head coach.
Michael Nyerges, Cincinnati Enquirer

The Bengals hope to join the latest NFL trend. Pick a young, offensive guru and let it rip. If the NFL is looking for the next Sean McVay, the Bengals went as close to the tree as possible.

They have tabbed Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor as the head coach they look to hire when Los Angeles’ season ends, according to multiple reports. Teams are not allowed to officially hire any coach still alive in the playoffs until they have been eliminated.

The Rams host the Cowboys this weekend. 

Taylor, 35, comes from the Sean McVay line that has become the hot pick for the NFL this year. If the two sides agree to terms when the season ends, Taylor would become next in line. He has Cincinnati ties as he was the offensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati under Tommy Tuberville in 2016.

More: Cincinnati Bengals potential coach: Who is Zac Taylor?

More: Five things to know about Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals hiring process

More: Carson Palmer to future Cincinnati Bengals coach: ‘Good luck’

BX: Bengals face risk in chasing next young offensive mind

Taylor’s brother, Press, is a well-regarded quarterbacks coach for Philadelphia Eagles. 

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This potential hire comes in the wake of the Bengals parting ways with Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons on Dec. 31. Lewis endured three consecutive losing seasons after five straight playoff appearances from 2011-15. 

The hiring committee consisted of President Mike Brown, Executive Vice President Katie Blackburn, Vice President Troy Blackburn, Vice President – Player Personnel Paul Brown and Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin, the only person outside of the family to be part of the process. 

The Bengals’ process of finding a replacement was thorough. They interviewed eight candidates, seven of which came from offensive backgrounds. It included doubling down on Los Angeles Rams’ offensive assistants Taylor and Shane Waldron. They also flew to Kansas City to talk with Chiefs’ OC and former Bengals running back Eric Bieniemy. 

This came after interviewing a string of internal candidates in special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and special assistant to the head coach Hue Jackson. 

Former defensive backs coach and recently fired Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph also interviewed along with Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Todd Monken. 

Now a roster that was the second youngest in the NFL on opening day last year and besieged by the most injury-ravaged season in its recent history now reboots under new management. 

  • History of Bengals head coaches
  • Paul Brown (1968-75)
  • Bill Johnson (1976-78)
  • Homer Rice (1978-79)
  • Forrest Gregg (1980-83)
  • Sam Wyche (1984-91)
  • Dave Shula (1992-96)
  • Bruce Coslet (1996-2000)
  • Dick LeBeau (2001-02)
  • Marvin Lewis (2003-18)

Cincinnati was one of eight NFL teams hiring new head coaches this offseason along with Green Bay, Cleveland, NY Jets, Tampa Bay, Denver, Arizona and Miami. The only team to hire a defensive coach was the Broncos (Vic Fangio). 

The Bengals currently own the league’s longest playoff win drought, dating back 28 years to Jan. 6, 1991 and will pick 11th overall in this year’s NFL Draft. Quarterback Andy Dalton is under contract through 2020 at a manageable number and no dead money if the team chose to go a different direction.