Marvin Lewis surprises Bengals by opting not to return in 2018

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Cincinnati Bengals great Corey Dillon on Beyond The Stripes with Paul Daugherty, Paul Dehner Jr., Jim Owczarski and Lindsay Patterson.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Enquirer learned that multiple members of the Cincinnati Bengals organization, including coaches, who just got on the team buses to U.S. Bank Stadium for their 1 p.m. ET against the Minnesota Vikings, learned along with the rest of the nation that head coach Marvin Lewis has decided to not enter contract negotiations to coach the team in 2018 after his contract expired.

The Bengals currently have no comment on the news.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the decision. 

Sources close to Lewis have told The Enquirer he remains interested in coaching in 2018 and does not plan to retire. 

Lewis and the Bengals did come to terms on a contract extension in the offseason, leaving him without a contract beyond the season for the first time since 2010. Following that year after days of tenuous discussion, Lewis opted to return and "reboot" the franchise. They drafted A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, then reeled off five consecutive playoff berths. All ended in first-round defeat, running Lewis' playoff record to 0-7. 

All of the Bengals' assistant coaches have expiring contracts as well, which means the team could begin moving forward with head coaching interviews for defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons, or hoping to lock up some up-and-coming position coaches.

When asked on Friday if there was a way he could ease this situation for his assistant coaches, Lewis balked at the idea it was necessary. 

"There is no need to ease that way," he said, "they are good coaches they will be fine."

Since Lewis will be looking for work in 2018, it's possible he brings some current assistants with him to a new team.

Heading into Sunday, Lewis is 123-111-3 in the regular season with the Bengals and 0-7 in the postseason.

At 15 seasons, Lewis is the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL behind New England's Bill Belichick. 

The possibility of Lewis walked away was always in play, but when asked on Friday before the national report broke if he had already made a decision he said to a group of three local reporters, "I’m not going to tell you." 

He was asked why not? 

"Because it’s not about me," Lewis said. "My future is one day."

Lewis said Friday he had not had a conversation with owner Mike Brown about the topic at that point, but they do still talk every day. 

One week at a time.

"At some point, we will have a conversation," Lewis said.