6 head coach candidates on the shortlist if the Bengals replace Zac Taylor

Potential Bengals Head Coach Replacements: Lincoln Riley

If Darrin Simmons falls on one end of the head coaching spectrum, Lincoln Riley would be on the complete opposite. No matter how you dice things up, this would be a risky hire, but one that could pay off in a big way.

Riley has generated plenty of NFL buzz in previous years after he’s put together impressive campaigns in the collegiate ranks with the Oklahoma Sooners. He’s known as an offensive genius and he has certainly displayed an ability to get electric play from his quarterbacks.

He coached back-to-back Heisman winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray. He even ensured a third made it to the ceremony (Jalen Hurts) that Joe Burrow won. In each instance, the respective signal-caller’s put together their best performances of their careers, a fact that should have the Bengals intrigued. Who knows what he could do when paired with the Queen City’s star quarterback.

Best-case scenario? Cincinnati finds themselves in an Arizona Cardinals-esque situation with Kliff Kingsbury. Worst-case? They waste precious years of Burrow on a rookie scale contract. Would they ever have the guts to pull off such a move?