Marvin Lewis and former Bengals coordinator firing odds

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ job was saved once again this offseason but is he safe through 2018?

It’s no surprise that when Las Vegas is making it’s betting odds for head coaches likely to be fired, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis lands on it. Cincinnati retained Lewis this offseason after everyone thought he was surely gone. After being the head coach for 15 seasons in Cincinnati and making the playoffs seven of those years, he has yet to advance beyond the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Oddsmakers in Vegas have Lewis tied with Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph for third in likeliness to be fired in 2018. Former Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden who is now the head coach of the Washington Redskins is tied for fifth on the list. None other than former Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, the Cleveland Browns head coach, is the most likely to be fired this year.

The only part of Lewis’ coaching tree that went on to be head coaches that is safe is Mike Zimmer of the Minnesota Vikings. Considering the Vikings just made the NFC Championship game last season with a quarterback like Case Keenum, Zimmer is more than safe after acquiring Kirk Cousins this offseason. The rest of the tree, however, will be on the hot seat entering 2018.

I’m not surprised that Jackson leads the list for Vegas considering everything that has gone on in Cleveland. During his two seasons as head coach, Cleveland has gone 1-31. The organization hired general manager John Dorsey, former Kansas City Chiefs GM, late last season and I think he is the center point on why Jackson is on his way out. Dorsey brought in former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who was also the head coach of the Chiefs for a season, and I think he will be the head coach of the Browns by the end of 2018.

Cleveland has brought in a significant amount of talent under Dorsey this offseason. Grabbing former Buffalo Bills starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and drafting Baker Mayfield first overall in this year’s draft has set the expectations higher. There’s also the addition of players like Jarvis Landry, former Miami Dolphins wide receiver. Jackson has the weapons to succeed, but if he can’t quickly, he will be out the door early in the season.

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Marvin Lewis will face off against Jackson twice this season, of course, considering they are in the same division. He will also face Vance Joseph as the AFC North is scheduled to play the AFC West in 2018. If Lewis can’t dominate those three games, we should see a move. Unfortunately, owner Mike Brown seems too loyal for these hot seats. Considering he kept Lewis around for continuity.