It's a big year for Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. He knows it. Everyone knows it. Not making the playoffs for a fourth straight year could be a fireable offense.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher has seen Taylor grow into his role from a rebuild to a legit AFC contender. Taylor is the convenient fall guy for a front office and ownership orbit that often refuses to face the public or take accountability for shortcomings.
All this makes the job description of Bengals head coach tougher than most of its ilk around the NFL. But Pitcher is confident Taylor can deliver the goods.
Pitcher pitches Taylor's 'consistency' in leadership
The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. did a deep-dive report on how Zac Taylor is facing serious pressure in 2026. Dan Pitcher offered a quote that expressed how the head coach's even-keeled, consistent demeanor will help him rise to the occasion:
“Anytime anybody has ever asked me about Zac, to me, the first attribute that I always mention is consistency...That is a critical attribute, I think, for any leader. For anybody who works under him and for the whole staff, I just think there is such ease when the leader is consistent and you know what the environment is going to be and that is the same when times are good and times are bad. You know what to expect, that is a very conducive environment to produce your best work.”
Pitcher would know what good leadership looks like. I implied how Taylor is sort of coaching with one arm tied behind his back. The same was true for his predecessor, Marvin Lewis, who Pitcher was an assistant under before being retained by Taylor.
Key difference: Lewis didn't have a Joe Burrow to work with. He had Carson Palmer, at least for a while, until Palmer was so fed up with the organization that he demanded a trade. Then, Andy Dalton wasn't quite good enough to elevate a moribund franchise to championship status.
So it's worth taking into account what Pitcher said here in a big way. Taylor is a model of consistency, and frankly, how else would he maintain his sanity?
Taylor must be livid with how the last few years have played out. Again, he's the convenient fall guy. GM in not-name Duke Tobin has held his job since 1999. He's going nowhere.
If anyone gets booted out the door in the event that this season goes sideways, it's Taylor. He's smart enough to know the score. Nevertheless, it bodes well that Pitcher is gassing up Taylor's even-keeled demeanor and ability to block out all that toxic speculation.
For my money, could the Bengals get a better head coach than Taylor if their job popped open? I believe so. On the other hand, Taylor has made lemonade out of a lot of lemony situations in Cincinnati. Not many coaches are cut out to endure all that he has. He clearly has the respect of the players and Burrow especially.
We'll see if Pitcher is right. Knowing how insular the Bengals tend to be, Pitcher would be the prime candidate to succeed Taylor if 2026 doesn't go as planned.
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