Top candidates to replace Zac Taylor as Bengals head coach

[Arkansas Bengal]

chris roling

Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 5:30 AM CST·2 min read

5

 

 

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 17: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on during a preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on August 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

 

The Cincinnati Bengals are in a weird spot. Joe Burrow's team looks like it could spin out, get even worse from 4-7, and, in doing so, end the Zac Taylor era.

 

But...Burrow is Burrow, and the team played some elite teams well before losing some heartbreaking one-score games. There's always a chance those games start going the other way and they sneak into the playoffs, which would keep Taylor safe.

 

Assuming Taylor isn't safe and the Bengals learned their lesson from nearly two decades of Marvin Lewis, though, who are some realistic candidates as Burrow's next head coach?

 

Here are some names to get to know (and some fans 100 percent already do).

 

Joe Brady, offensive coordinator, Buffalo Bills

Bengals fans know all about Brady, one of Burrow's masterminds behind the LSU title run. Now, he's getting his stock raised by dialing up Josh Allen's offense in Buffalo.

 

Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions

Johnson has quickly established himself as one of the massive names in the upcoming cycle. He surprised by returning to the Lions and is simply orchestrating elite attacks once more.

 

Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator, Detroit Lions

If the Bengals wanted to go the other direction, the Lions have one of those, too. Glenn gets tabbed as a player's coach who produces elite, hardnosed units. Losing Aidan Hutchinson hasn't really hurt his unit.

 

Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator, Washington Commanders

Kingsbury isn't the typical former college coach, considering he won a playoff game and got a second contract. His offense for Jayden Daniels has been impressive, suggesting he can scheme up well to his player's talents.

 

Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers

Get used to Minter's name. He's coaching the NFL's best defense for the Chargers with scraps and parts cast off from other teams while starting rookies at the boundary corners. That's important, given the so-so talent acquisition of the Bengals lately.

 

Mike Vrabel, personnel consultant, Cleveland Browns

Vrabel went all-in on his run-first and gaudy defense in Tennessee and wound up running out of steam. Yet, the Titans are miles worse without him. His hardnosed ways, paired with actually having an elite quarterback and offense, might just be the perfect fit.

 

Bill Belichick, former head coach, New England Patriots

One can't really talk about this without naming Belichick. There's just one big question -- would the allure of coaching a player like Burrow override what he understands about how the Bengals are run from top to bottom?

 

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/top-candidates-replace-zac-taylor-113000447.html

[|High School Harry|]

One of the main questions when considering any Bengals head coach is connections to the Brown family and Bengals.

I think now they also must have the Joe Seal of Approval.

Can't really see any of these guys because they would perhaps not mesh well with the current team and destroy the chemistry we have.

Right now, Zac is sort of the catalyst.  Would like to see some things about him change... ie giving up the play calling, becoming more

aggressive with officials, perhaps.

 

I do like the idea Vrabel as Defensive coordinator?  Maybe?

Getting him away from Cleveland where he seems to be sort of stockpiled

waiting for his chance to move up would be a good thing to do.

Vonn Bell for Defensive Backfield Coach.

[Jamie_B]

We all know he isnt going anywhere.

[New Jersey Bengal]

I wish that wasn't the case

[|BlackJesus|]

The only one I can realistically see having any chance would be Joe Brady, if he was recommended by Burrow and Ja'Marr - who won the Championship with him at LSU. 

 

But I can't see the front office firing Zac and all the coordinators who they would still have to pay not to work for them. 💰 

[|BlackJesus|]

At a minimum, I think the entire defensive coaching staff needs to be replaced. 

[|High School Harry|]

1 minute ago, BlackJesus said:

The only one I can realistically see having any chance would be Joe Brady, if he was recommended by Burrow and Ja'Marr - who won the Championship with him at LSU. 

 

But I can't see the front office firing Zac and all the coordinators who they would still have to pay not to work for them. 💰 

But is he head coach material?

[Cat]

1 minute ago, BlackJesus said:

The only one I can realistically see having any chance would be Joe Brady, if he was recommended by Burrow and Ja'Marr - who won the Championship with him at LSU. 

 

But I can't see the front office firing Zac and all the coordinators who they would still have to pay not to work for them. 💰 

They have families, after all... 

 

I would think any respectable potential hire would look at Burrow and salivate - but then they see the family management dynamic, and get turned off.

[Jungletiger]

Who is the cheapest and is asking for the least amount of control, then you'll have your answer.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

21 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

At a minimum, I think the entire defensive coaching staff needs to be replaced. 

And They should make Zac give up play calling duties

[I_C_Deadpeople]

Vrabel can get a HC gig that pays twice what we pay so why would he become DC here? Maybe a fall back position for a year and that is all. We need a failed HC like Saleh who may never get another HC opp. 

[Jungletiger]

Opinion

 

Joe Brady, offensive coordinator, Buffalo Bills
Could work, but that LSU defense he made was booty and the O line was mid to booty .  I don't think the team would be hugely different, just play calls would probably be bettter.

 

Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator, Detroit Lions
Depends on who has for a staff, I haven't seen him be a HC so I don't know how the other phase positions will be coached.

 

Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator, Detroit Lions
Same as above, I like Marvin and I liked Zimmer, both were HC's of teams with high power elements in their offense because their teams placed so poorly.  How far did they go?

 

Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator, Washington Commanders
No thank you, he is doing well as an OC I give him that, but Nu to him being HC.

 

Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator, Los Angeles Chargers
See above in regards to DCs

 

Mike Vrabel, personnel consultant, Cleveland Browns
Pass, looking at how he was at the end of his career at the Titans, possible poison.

 

Bill Belichick, former head coach, New England Patriots

For as long as we have JB, and JC, unlikely though, man demands control.

 

Know these are my opinions and I know my comments about the OC/DCs are captain obvious level, but it is what it is when your the first to give a never been HC a chance.  There's a lot of successful coordinators out there that are failed HCs, even if it's not entirely their fault.

[Jamie_B]

I'm not on board with a HC that has never been a HC before, if Joe was early in his career ok, but we can't afford to have a new guy "learn on the job". 

 

This means it's

 

Kingburry

Vrabel 

Bellicheck

 

 

Of those 3 the only one that interests me is Billicheck, and I dont think the front office would give him the support he needs

[Jungletiger]

3 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

I'm not on board with a HC that has never been a HC before, if Joe was early in his career ok, but we can't afford to have a new guy "learn on the job". 

 

This means it's

 

Kingburry

Vrabel 

Bellicheck

 

 

Of those 3 the only one that interests me is Billicheck, and I dont think the front office would give him the support he needs

 

I agree.

[MichaelWeston]

I think the short list would be Joe Brady, Ben Johnson, Vrabel and Vance Joseph. 

 

I would be interested in Brian Flores-Aaron Glenn-Todd Monken and Bobby Slowik as well. 

[New Jersey Bengal]

I like Glenn i think he would give us a strong defense but we would need a good offensive coordinator 

[Cricket]

31 minutes ago, Jamie_B said:

 [snip]…Of those 3 the only one that interests me is Billicheck, and I dont think the front office would give him the control he needs

fixed

 

 

[Jungletiger]

1 hour ago, Cricket said:

fixed

 

 

 

err... them draft picks post Brady....

[gupps]

2 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Vrabel can get a HC gig that pays twice what we pay so why would he become DC here? Maybe a fall back position for a year and that is all. We need a failed HC like Saleh who may never get another HC opp. 

 

If Vrabel comes in as DC, Zach will be spending all of next year looking over his shoulder (as he should).

[|High School Harry|]

21 minutes ago, gupps said:

 

If Vrabel comes in as DC, Zach will be spending all of next year looking over his shoulder (as he should).

So agree and perhaps as it should be.  "When his ass is shaking his mind will follow" ~ George S Patton

I think Vrabel would be attractive to the Brown family because of his deep Ohio roots, Cuyahoga Falls 

and Ohio State.

True, he may be a temp until he gets a head coaching shot elsewhere but I do think he would right the ship

while he was here.

[MichaelWeston]

16 minutes ago, High School Harry said:

So agree and perhaps as it should be.  "When his ass is shaking his mind will follow" ~ George S Patton

I think Vrabel would be attractive to the Brown family because of his deep Ohio roots, Cuyahoga Falls 

and Ohio State.

True, he may be a temp until he gets a head coaching shot elsewhere but I do think he would right the ship

while he was here.

DC options: Vrabel, Saleh, Dennis Allen, Brandon Staley, Jim Leonhard

[T-Dub]

3 hours ago, BlackJesus said:

The only one I can realistically see having any chance would be Joe Brady, if he was recommended by Burrow and Ja'Marr - who won the Championship with him at LSU. 

 

But I can't see the front office firing Zac and all the coordinators who they would still have to pay not to work for them. 💰 

 

 

They're paying them not to work for them right now, depending on how you look at it.

 

I nominate Tom Landry, since this is an exercise in futility anyway.

[|High School Harry|]

1 hour ago, MichaelWeston said:

DC options: Vrabel, Saleh, Dennis Allen, Brandon Staley, Jim Leonhard

https://www.cincyjungle.com/2024/11/14/24293489/bengals-defense-robert-livingston-colorado-buffaloes-boulder-colorado

 

Former Bengal coach Rob Livingston got some ink on Cincy Jungle awhile back and he seems to check a number

of Bengals boxes.  Cheap, Bengal ties, Cheap...

[Le Tigre]

1 hour ago, T-Dub said:

I nominate Tom Landry, since this is an exercise in futility anyway.

If that’s the case, George Halas, Vince Lombardi…

 

Heck, since everyone’s dead…keep it in house. Better call Paul

[KA14_HOF]

If propping up a deceased former HC on the sidelines, Weekend at Bernie's-style, would help our defense get more pressure on opposing QBs, I'm all for it.