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Last season was an odd time for the future of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Things weren't looking great and Zac Taylor seemed to be on the hot seat. Then, a report that Taylor actually had two years left on his deal surfaced, thanks to an apparent secret contract extension.
Taylor surprisingly having multiple years on his deal made it all but impossible that the Bengals would fire him.
But this year, 2026, is the one to circle in red. If the Bengals underwhelm after a strong offseason, it might not matter that Taylor still has one year left on his deal.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. touched on this recently.
“There is no other fall guy if things don’t work this year. Barring injury, nobody will point fingers at Burrow,” Dehner wrote. “The front office earned a reprieve with a strong offseason, and even the quarterback told people “we have everything we need” and to back off the personnel department.”
It’s all about the finish this year. If Taylor and Co. flop, one can safely assume it’s over. If things go the other way and they make a playoff push, maybe Taylor gets even more years tacked onto his deal.
Regardless, it’s a point to remember as the Bengals head into an all-in season. The Bengals are banking on continuity in an AFC North otherwise resetting. The front office did its job, but now Taylor’s hot-seat coaching staff needs to respond in kind.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Zac Taylor's hot seat with Bengals still underrated storyline to watch
Continue reading...
Things weren't looking great and Zac Taylor seemed to be on the hot seat. Then, a report that Taylor actually had two years left on his deal surfaced, thanks to an apparent secret contract extension.
Taylor surprisingly having multiple years on his deal made it all but impossible that the Bengals would fire him.
But this year, 2026, is the one to circle in red. If the Bengals underwhelm after a strong offseason, it might not matter that Taylor still has one year left on his deal.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. touched on this recently.
“There is no other fall guy if things don’t work this year. Barring injury, nobody will point fingers at Burrow,” Dehner wrote. “The front office earned a reprieve with a strong offseason, and even the quarterback told people “we have everything we need” and to back off the personnel department.”
It’s all about the finish this year. If Taylor and Co. flop, one can safely assume it’s over. If things go the other way and they make a playoff push, maybe Taylor gets even more years tacked onto his deal.
Regardless, it’s a point to remember as the Bengals head into an all-in season. The Bengals are banking on continuity in an AFC North otherwise resetting. The front office did its job, but now Taylor’s hot-seat coaching staff needs to respond in kind.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Zac Taylor's hot seat with Bengals still underrated storyline to watch
Continue reading...
