Bengals could benefit after this year’s coaching cycle leaves big names available

The Cincinnati Bengals have options if the Zac Taylor era doesn’t work out.

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The Cincinnati Bengals have long-term options at head coach if Zac Taylor doesn’t work out considering how the 2021 head-coaching carousel played out.

With the Houston Texans settling on Baltimore Ravens wideouts coach David Culley as their new head coach, all of the vacancies have been filled:

  • Jacksonville Jaguars: Urban Meyer
  • New York Jets: Robert Saleh
  • Atlanta Falcons: Arthur Smith
  • Los Angeles Chargers: Brandon Staley
  • Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell
  • Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni
  • Houston Texans: David Culley

Not seen here? Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. Or Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. Or Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Or even Nathaniel Hackett from the Green Bay Packers or Pete Carmichael from the New Orleans Saints.

Which isn’t to say some of the above hires were bad. New York got an expert defensive mind with Saleh and Atlanta’s offense should boom with Smith leading the way.

But some of the perceived best names didn’t and jobs and will be available after the 2021 season. Should the Bengals need to replace Taylor for whatever reason, Bieniemy, Daboll and Brady should be there.

For reference, the Bengals previously interviewed Bieniemy, who continues to thrive with Patrick Mahomes, while Brady was the mastermind behind Joe Burrow’s LSU offense.

We can’t know why these guys didn’t get jobs during this cycle, whether it be poor fit or something else. But there’s one thing that will make the Bengals job attractive to them all, should it open:

Joe Burrow.

This is getting ahead of ourselves, as Taylor will turn over the roster further this offseason. But if the Bengals want to start over at head coach after the 2021 season, they won’t hurt for qualified options who would love to coach a player like Burrow.

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