The offensive coordinator and personnel executive are rising stars.
After Brian Callahan left to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the offense of the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t take a step back. Rather, it took a few steps forward.
In Dan Pitcher’s first year as offensive coordinator, the Bengals set a new franchise high for points (472), ranked fifth in the NFL with 57 total touchdowns, and finished in the top 10 for yards.
Perhaps even more notably, Joe Burrow had a career year and Ja’Marr Chase won the triple crown. You can relive some of the best moments from a great season from the offense by watching the video below.
For all those reasons and more, The Athletic included the 38-year-old Pitcher on its list of the NFL 50 Under 40, which is reserved for “rising coaches, executives and other NFL personnel”.
According to The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue and Mike Jones, Pitcher “has started sparking interest as a future head coach, and it’s believed in NFL circles it’s a matter of when, not if.”
The article also noted that Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has given Pitcher credit for developing Burrow since he was drafted and for the team’s effectiveness on third downs last year, as the Bengals finished fifth in the league.
As Geoff Hobson pointed out, Pitcher received similar praise from his superstar QB back when he was promoted to be the OC. “Our relationship is as good as it gets,” Burrow said back then. “I wouldn’t be the player I am today without him.”
Meanwhile, Trey Brown, a 39-year-old personnel executive for Cincinnati, also made The Athletic’s list. According to Rodrigue and Jones:
The former scout is the right-hand man of Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin, who leans on Brown because of his versatility, extensive knowledge and keen eye for talent. In addition to his five seasons with the Bengals, Brown also has worked in the Patriots’ and Eagles’ front offices, as well as with the AAF’s Birmingham Iron and XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. Brown has been on the radar for several teams in search of general managers the last couple years, interviewing with the Jets and Jaguars this offseason.
The Bengals are fortunate to have two bright young minds on their staff. Time will tell if they continue to move up the ranks in Cincinnati or find bigger opportunities elsewhere.
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