It doesn’t appear Taylor will be going anywhere, but he needs a strong finish to avoid being on the hot seat entering the 2025 season.
Despite quarterback Joe Burrow putting up MVP numbers and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase being in the midst of a historic season, the Cincinnati Bengals are just 7-8 heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. They will need to win out and receive some help to make the NFL Playoffs.
While the team is clearly underachieving, it does not appear that its down year will cost head coach Zac Taylor his job.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports broke down Taylor’s job status in an appearance with Colin Cowherd, saying both the franchise and Burrow have faith in their head coach.
In addition, the Bengals’ ownership admits that they failed to put the team in the best position to win this year.
“One thing about Zac Taylor is that he’s extremely well-liked by the people and players that matter in that building. That helps him a lot. What also helps him is the fact that ownership did not give the Bengals the right opportunity to begin this season. They could have paid Trey Hendrickson, but they didn’t. They tagged Tee Higgins. Most importantly, they got to the goal line, the 1-yard line with Ja’Marr Chase.”
Taylor, who is in his sixth season with the Bengals, owns a 44-52-1 record as the team’s head coach but led the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances in Kansas City in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with Cincinnati beating the Chiefs in the first of the two matchups to reach Super Bowl LVI before narrowly losing to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bengals started the 2024 season 4-8 but have since won three in a row to keep slim playoff hopes alive. If there was any chance Taylor was on the hot seat right now, that’s out the window.
The question is, can the Bengals end the season on a high note and keep Taylor off the hot seat heading into the 2025 season? They’re currently 0-7 this season vs. teams with a winning record and will face the 9-6 Denver Broncos and 10-5 Pittsburgh Steelers to end the season.
Lose both of those, and Taylor’s seat could be quite warm when the 2025 NFL season kicks off.
