After an injury-filled 6-11 season, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to not panic and make any drastic changes to the organization. Team president Mike Brown released a statement after the regular season, in which he stated that the Bengals were retaining head coach Zac Taylor and general manager Duke Tobin. Brown said, “I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.”
Regarding his job security and his feelings going into next season, head coach Zac Taylor said, “I’m excited about the direction we’re headed.” He also said that he expected no changes in their current coaching staff. However, a new report may change those plans for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals Could Lose Offensive Coordinator
Despite their losing record, Cincinnati once again had one of the league’s top offenses. Even when starting quarterback Joe Burrow was out, the team was able to put up points with veteran Joe Flacco. As a result, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher has been garnering interest around the league. On Jan. 9, Pitcher had an interview with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy. Fortunately for the Bengals, Pitcher has not been scheduled for a second interview with the Browns as of now.
Despite this, Pitcher’s future may still be with another NFL team as NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Pitcher will interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their offensive coordinator job. The offensive coordinator role in Tampa Bay would represent a lateral move for Pitcher from his current role, meaning the Bengals could opt to deny the request to interview him. However, Rapoport’s report also indicates that head coach Zac Taylor is allowing Pitcher to explore outside opportunities.
Despite being with the Bengals in a variety of different roles since 2016, Pitcher has never called plays. The current playcaller for the Bengals is Zac Taylor, meanwhile, Pitcher would call plays for the Tampa Bay offense.
Why Pitcher Might Consider Leaving
A lateral move from a coordinator is rare in the NFL. When it does happen, it’s usually because a coach wants to increase their profile in hopes of improving their chances at landing a future head coaching job. A recent example of this is Eric Bienemy. He served as the Kansas City offensive coordinator for five seasons, but after several head coaching interviews that did not land him the job, he opted to leave Kansas City in a lateral move and go to Washington. The move did not work out for Bienemy as he lasted only a year with the Commanders.
Fortunately for the Bengals, if Pitcher were to leave, a replacement is likely already in mind. Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien wrote that Brian Callahan would be a natural replacement for Pitcher. Callahan held the offensive coordinator job for four seasons with the Bengals, before taking on the Titans head coaching job in 2024. After being fired following the 2025 season, he could return to his former job with the Bengals. However, Callahan is also a candidate with the Chargers, Falcons, and Tampa Bay for their coordinator vacancy.
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