Zac Taylor Faces Heat After Bengals Miss Playoffs Again - But He’s Not Backing Down
For the third straight year, the Cincinnati Bengals are on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. And with that comes renewed scrutiny around head coach Zac Taylor’s future in the Queen City.
Taylor, who took over the Bengals in February 2019, signed a five-year extension back in 2021 that was publicly reported to run through the 2026 season. But according to a recent report, there’s more to the story.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. revealed that Taylor’s deal actually includes an additional, previously unannounced year - tacked on after the Bengals made their second straight AFC Championship appearance in 2022. That would mean Taylor is under contract through the 2027 season.
Still, with the team sitting at 4-10 and buried in third place in the AFC North, questions are swirling - and Taylor isn’t exactly eager to entertain them.
When asked directly about his contract status on Wednesday, Taylor didn’t mince words: “I’m not gonna respond to that,” he said. “I just told you, I coach every day like it’s my last one.”
It’s a familiar mindset for the 40-year-old coach, who’s no stranger to pressure. His first two seasons in Cincinnati - 2019 and 2020 - were tough sledding, with the Bengals finishing a combined 6-25-1. But Taylor kept grinding, and the payoff came in 2021 and 2022, when the Bengals made back-to-back deep playoff runs, including a Super Bowl appearance and two AFC title game berths.
That recent history is part of why Taylor isn’t panicking now. He’s been through the fire before - and come out stronger.
“I’ve been through years in 2019 and 2020 that were literally you coach every game thinking it’s your last game,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen how we responded after that in 2021 and 2022, competing for division titles and championships, so this year is no different for me.”
Taylor also emphasized that while he stays in regular communication with team president Mike Brown, his contract isn’t a topic of discussion. “I talk to Mike every week,” he said. “That’s not part of our conversation.”
What is part of the conversation? Turning things around - not just next year, but starting now. With three games left on the schedule, Taylor made it clear he’s focused on finishing strong and setting the tone for 2026 and beyond.
“I have a lot of confidence in our staff that we’re going to get this turned around,” Taylor said. “We’re going to finish this season really strong and put together a great plan to get back to those championships that I mentioned. Very confident that we can do all that.”
And he’s earned the right to believe that. Despite the current struggles, Taylor’s resume includes a 10-win playoff record, a conference title, and a Super Bowl appearance - no small feat in a loaded AFC. The road back won’t be easy, but Taylor’s not shying away from the challenge.
The Bengals have three games left to show signs of life - and Taylor, for all the outside noise, is coaching like a man who’s been here before. Because he has.