Frustration Boils Over in Cincinnati: Fans Fund Billboard Calling for Change
The Bengals are in the middle of a rough season, and for some fans, enough is enough. A new billboard just off I-75 in Cincinnati is making that frustration loud and clear - literally.
The message, in bold white letters, reads: **"Fire Zac. Fire Duke.
Save Burrow." ** It’s a pointed call for the Bengals to part ways with head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin, while also sending a plea to protect the team’s franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow.
The billboard went live on Dec. 18 and is visible to drivers heading southbound near the Western Avenue/Liberty Street exit.
At the bottom of the sign are two social media handles: one for the YouTube channel Cincy Unfiltered and another for an X account known as @iamkingtez55, which goes by the alias Vontaze Burner. According to that account, the billboard was funded through a GoFundMe campaign that began back in late October.
A Fan-Funded Statement
The campaign, titled "Bengals Billboard: Fire Duke and Zac," has raised over $1,500 through more than 50 individual donations. While the GoFundMe page lists the organizer as “Vontaze Burfict,” the person running the campaign has clarified that the former Bengals linebacker is not involved.
The motivation behind the campaign goes beyond this season’s struggles. On the fundraising page, the organizer writes: *“This isn’t about one bad season.
It’s about decades of underachievement and an ownership group that prioritizes profit over passion.” * The message is clear: fans are tired of feeling like their team is stuck in neutral.
The billboard is meant to be a wake-up call - a public, unavoidable reminder that some Bengals fans believe major changes are needed to get the franchise back on track.
Who’s Behind It?
While the identity of the person behind the Vontaze Burner account remains anonymous, Drew Garrison, who runs the Cincy Unfiltered YouTube channel, confirmed he had a hand in promoting the campaign. Garrison said he didn’t coordinate the billboard itself but helped spread the word, which led to his channel being included on the sign.
“I supported the message,” Garrison said. “They threw our YouTube channel on it because we helped get the word out.”
A Season Gone Sideways
The Bengals’ 2025 campaign has been anything but smooth. Sitting at 4-10 after a shutout loss to the Ravens in Week 15, Cincinnati has now missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a franchise that, not long ago, looked like a rising powerhouse in the AFC with Joe Burrow under center.
Injuries, inconsistency, and questions about the team’s direction have clouded what was once an optimistic outlook. And while Burrow has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Cincinnati after recent comments sparked speculation, the fan base remains uneasy.
What’s Next for Taylor and Tobin?
Head coach Zac Taylor is still under contract through the 2027 season - a detail recently confirmed by The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., who noted that Taylor’s deal runs a year longer than previously believed.
As for Duke Tobin, he’s been with the Bengals for over two decades, helping build a roster that reached a Super Bowl just a few seasons ago. But in the eyes of some fans, the team’s recent regression has overshadowed past success.
The billboard may not force immediate change, but it sends a message that’s hard to ignore: a vocal segment of the Bengals’ fan base is demanding accountability - and they’re willing to pay to make their voices heard.
Whether ownership takes notice remains to be seen. But in a city that’s seen its fair share of football heartbreak, this latest move is a reminder of just how deeply fans care - and how loudly they’re willing to shout when things go off the rails.