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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor will return next season despite the team missing the playoffs for the third straight year, the franchise announced Monday.
Taylor survived a league-wide coaching shakeup that left several head coaches out of work, and Bengals leadership offered a vote of confidence while acknowledging the season was “disappointing.”
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks at a news conference after an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
“We came into the season with high expectations after four consecutive winning seasons with leaders leading 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 statement provided by the team. “The results were not up to our standards and missing the playoffs again shows there is more work to do.”
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“Our focus is to build a team that can compete consistently 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 lead us forward. They have shown that they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. “We are confident in their plans and look forward to returning to the desired level of success.”
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor walks on 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 turf toe, but managed to return after surgery. Still, for all their offensive talent, the Bengals finished on the outside with a 6-11 record that culminated in a 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
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When asked after the game about talks with the front office, Taylor remained tight-lipped.
“I’ll keep them private.”
Taylor was hired by the organization in 2019 and owns a record of 52-63-1. He has guided the Bengals to the postseason twice during his tenure, including two appearances in the AFC Championship Game 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)
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“I have a lot of confidence in our coaching staff. I know those guys work very hard to put us in a good position,” Burrow said after the final game of the season.
