The AFC North is undergoing a serious facelift. With three of the four teams bringing in new head coaches this offseason, the only familiar face on the sideline come Week 1 will be Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor. The Bengals' head man, now one of the division’s elder statesmen in coaching tenure, suddenly finds himself surrounded by fresh play-callers and new philosophies.
Let’s break down the new-look coaching landscape in the AFC North - and how it all connects back to Taylor and the Bengals.
Jesse Minter Takes Over in Baltimore
The Ravens are turning the page with Jesse Minter, a Mount St. Joseph alum and the son of longtime college coach Rick Minter.
At 42, Minter is just one day older than Zac Taylor - born May 9, 1983, to Taylor’s May 10 birthday. It’s a fun coincidence, but there’s more connective tissue here than just the calendar.
Both men have ties to the University of Cincinnati, though their paths never crossed. Minter was a graduate assistant with the Bearcats back in 2007 and 2008, while Taylor served as UC’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2016 before heading west to join Sean McVay’s staff in Los Angeles. That Cincinnati link is a subtle thread that now stretches across the division.
Todd Monken Returns to Cleveland - This Time as Head Coach
Over in Cleveland, the Browns have tabbed Todd Monken as their new head coach - a move that’s been a long time coming. Monken has been on NFL radars for years, including in 2019 when the Bengals reportedly requested to interview him for their head coaching vacancy. At the time, Monken was the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay, working with veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who once called Monken someone with the “It Factor” to lead an NFL team.
Ultimately, the Bengals went with Taylor, while Monken landed in Cleveland as the Browns’ offensive coordinator. That stint lasted a season before he moved to the college ranks with Georgia, where he helped engineer one of the most dominant offenses in recent college football history. He returned to the NFL with Baltimore, serving as OC for three seasons before the Browns brought him back - this time with the top job.
Now, Monken steps into a Browns team with high expectations and a roster built to compete immediately. His offensive pedigree and experience across both college and pro levels make him one of the more intriguing hires of this cycle.
Mike McCarthy Heads to Pittsburgh
The Steelers made a splash of their own, bringing in Mike McCarthy as their new head coach. McCarthy, of course, is no stranger to the AFC North - or to Zac Taylor. In fact, the two last met in December 2024 during a Monday Night Football showdown between the Bengals and McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys.
That game turned into a showcase for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, who lit up the Cowboys’ secondary en route to a 27-20 Bengals win. But it wasn’t just the stars who made headlines. A blocked punt by former Bengal Nick Vigil - and a miscue by Amani Oruwariye, who touched the ball after the block - led to a recovery by then-rookie Maema Njongmeta and swung momentum Cincinnati’s way.
There was also some sideline drama: after a late third-quarter penalty on Cowboys tight end Luke Schoonmaker, McCarthy was seen telling an official that Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt had pulled a “f------ flop.” That moment, while brief, underscored the intensity McCarthy brings - and the fire he’ll now carry into a division known for its physicality and rivalries.
Interestingly, the Browns reportedly pursued McCarthy for their head coaching job back in January 2019, before opting to promote Freddie Kitchens. Now, McCarthy lands in the division anyway, this time wearing black and gold.
What It All Means for Zac Taylor and the Bengals
With Monken and Minter stepping into their first NFL head coaching roles, and McCarthy bringing a Super Bowl pedigree to Pittsburgh, Zac Taylor suddenly finds himself as the AFC North’s longest-tenured coach. Not long ago, he was the new guy trying to establish a culture. Now, he’s the benchmark - the one with playoff wins, a Super Bowl appearance, and a proven track record of developing young talent.
But don’t expect things to get easier. The division is reloading, and each of these hires brings a unique challenge. Monken’s offensive mind, Minter’s defensive roots, and McCarthy’s experience all add new layers to a division that’s already one of the NFL’s toughest.
The AFC North just got a lot more interesting. And for Zac Taylor and the Bengals, the road to the top is as crowded - and competitive - as ever.