Zac

Taylor

Following an emphatic report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport over the weekend that Taylor was going nowhere, the Bengals announced that they’re sticking with the 42-year-old coach Monday morning. Taylor, who took the franchise to its third Super Bowl appearance in 2021 and first since 1988, has also overseen the team nosedive in the last three seasons. Cincinnati hasn’t made the playoffs in three years, with significant injuries to quarterback Joe Burrow impacting two of those seasons. The Bengals defense allowed 492 points this year, the most in franchise history, after moving on from defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo last offseason. Taylor’s contract reportedly runs through the 2027 season, giving him job security that it is difficult to say he’s earned.

Since going to the Super Bowl and Conference Championship Game in back-to-back years, the Bengals have now missed the playoffs for the third straight year. While Joe Burrow missed significant time in two of the last three seasons, Taylor has overseen the Bengals defense get progressively worse over that time. This year’s version has already allowed 472 points, which is the most in franchise history with one game still to go. Still, it’s really no surprise that Taylor is being brought back considering the devotion the Bengals ownership has already shown him as well as previous coaches.

In news that will surprise nobody who is familiar with the Bengals organization, Dehner also writes that there “is zero thought” that GM Duke Tobin’s job is in jeopardy and that “the most likely scenario” is that DC Al Golden gets another year as well while the Bengals retool their defensive personnel. Perhaps you think that firing the main architects after a disappointing year is warranted. The Bengals reject your reality and substitute their own.

Whether or not this means Taylor will turn over all play-calling duties to Pitcher is to be determined, but the former quarterbacks coach turned offensive coordinator will clearly have a chance to add some wrinkles of his own to the offense. Pitcher was promoted to OC earlier this offseason after Brian Callahan accepted the job to become the Titans’ next head coach. Pitcher has been with the Bengals since 2016 and is more than familiar with the offensive philosophy and schemes Taylor has implemented over the years. He’ll presumably retain many of those key elements to best optimize Joe Burrow and the talent around him, but it’s not clear at this time whether or not he’ll take over play-calling duties on gamedays.

The name to watch here will be defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was a hot candidate for head coaching vacancies last offseason. Beyond Anarumo’s potential departure, the Bengals have had many coaches linked to potential job openings, and Taylor was quoted on Monday saying, “I think we have a tremendous coaching staff.” Taylor and the Bengals were flirting with a potential playoff berth up until a Week 17 loss to the Chiefs ended their chances. With Joe Burrow expected to be healthy at the start of next season, they should once again be in the conversation as a top contender in the AFC.

Taylor had previously been the lowest-paid coach in the league, which the Bengals rectified by adding five more years to his deal. It’s a striking comeback for a coach who appeared to be firmly on the hot seat at the end of the 2020 season. The Bengals brought Taylor back after a 2-14 debut and a 4-11-1 follow-up campaign. Their trust paid off with a trip to the Super Bowl. Taylor has at times run an offense that is maddeningly conservative for the talent of his personnel. However, he has shown a willingness to open things up at times. If the Bengals can fix their pass blocking issues, Taylor could lean into the passing attack more in future seasons. More importantly, Joe Burrow is thriving in Taylor’s offense. Continuity should be good for the star quarterback and his two top weapons--Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins--all of whom are on rookie contracts.

Taylor was the lowest-paid coach in the league this season, making $3.75 million in the final year of his contract. His new deal should make him one of the highest paid coaches. Taylor is expected to bring back his entire staff with him, with several of his assistants already landing extensions.

The Titans won the AFC’s No. 1 seed despite playing with an NFL-record 91 different players on the active roster throughout the season. Weathering the loss of Derrick Henry for most of the season as well as watching Julio Jones and A.J. Brown spend time on IR, the Titans managed to go undefeated against the cream of the NFL’s crop, besting the Bills, Chiefs, Rams, and 49ers in the regular season. Vrabel rightfully got an extension after the season. Packers HC Matt LaFleur finished second with eight votes, and Raiders interim HC Rich Bisaccia (3), Bengals HC Zac Taylor (2), and Patriots HC Bill Belichick (1) also received votes.

Taylor may have been bailed out by Joe Burrow’s major Week 10 knee injury, which made the Bengals’ offense a dysfunctional disaster for the remainder of the season. With Burrow expected to recover from his injury by early in the 2021 season, Taylor will have another shot to prove the team is progressing under his watch. “We remain bullish on the foundation Zac is building, and we look forward to next year giving our fans the winning results we all want,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement. “We must capitalize on opportunities in front of us.” Taylor’s best hope is that a full season for Burrow, Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd buy him another season or ten as the team’s head coach.

The Bengals are on their bye this week. Both players have been placed in COVID protocols. Barring further positive tests, the Bengals should return to their facility next week.