The Cincinnati Bengals are officially out of playoff contention, and frustrations are boiling over-not just in the stands, but from some of the team’s most recognizable fans. After a brutal 24-0 loss at home to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the calls for change are growing louder, and this time, they include a voice from pop culture: longtime Bengals fan Nick Lachey.
The Cincinnati native didn’t hold back on social media after watching the Ravens dominate from start to finish. "INSANITY 'Doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results'," Lachey wrote on X, before adding, "Zac has to go.
Change has to happen. Anything else is literally nuts. #whodey"
That’s a pretty direct shot at head coach Zac Taylor, whose seat has been getting warmer as the season has unraveled. The Bengals’ loss to Baltimore not only marked another frustrating performance, but it also officially shut the door on their postseason hopes. That makes it three straight years without a playoff appearance-a tough pill to swallow for a team and a fanbase that not long ago felt like it was on the verge of something special.
Taylor, who once led Cincinnati to a Super Bowl appearance, now finds himself under a microscope. The offense has sputtered, the defense hasn’t been able to hold the line in key moments, and the overall identity of the team seems to be slipping.
Fans are asking: where’s the spark? Where’s the urgency?
And more importantly, where’s the progress?
Lachey, who’s been vocal about his Bengals fandom for decades, has seen the highs and lows of this franchise. He and his brother Drew grew up in Cincinnati, and Nick has followed the team closely for more than 30 years. His frustration echoes what many in the Queen City are feeling right now-disappointment, confusion, and a growing sense that the current approach just isn’t working.
At 52, Lachey may be best known these days as a reality TV host and former member of the ‘90s boy band 98 Degrees, but in this moment, he’s just another Bengals fan fed up with what he’s seeing on the field. And he’s not alone.
With the season effectively over, the Bengals have some big questions to answer. Chief among them: Is Zac Taylor still the right man to lead this team forward? For now, the noise is only getting louder.