NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor will return next season despite the team missing the playoffs for a third straight year, the franchise announced Monday.
Taylor survived a league-wide coaching shakeup that left several head coaches out of work, with Bengals management offering a vote of confidence while acknowledging the season was “disappointing.”
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks at a press conference after an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
“We entered the season with high expectations, coming off four straight winning seasons with leaders in place that took us to a Super Bowl and two AFC Championship games. We know this season has been frustrating and disappointing,” Bengals president Mike Brown said in a team statement. “The results were not up to our standards and to miss the play-offs again proves there is more work to do.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
“Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level with the goal of winning championships. After careful consideration, I am confident that [director of player personnel] Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven that they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.”
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor walks the sideline during the first half of an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Joe Burrow missed much of the season with clubfoot, but managed to return after surgery. Still, with all their offensive talent, the Bengals finished on the outside looking in with a 6-11 record, capped by a 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
BROWNS FOUR HEAD COACH KEVIN STEFANSKI AFTER SIX SEASONS
Asked after the game about talks with the front office, Taylor remained tight-lipped.
“I just want to keep them private.”
Taylor was hired by the organization in 2019 and owns a 52-63-1 record. He has guided the Bengals to the postseason twice during his tenure, including two AFC Championship games and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor walks off the field during halftime of an NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals in Cincinnati, Ohio on Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
“I’m very confident in our coaching staff. I know those guys are working really hard to put us in a good position,” Burrow said after the final game of the season.
