Jim Owczarski and Lindsay Patterson were live from US Bank Stadium to talk about Marvin Lewis' surprise decision to not return to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.
MINNEAPOLIS - The idea that Marvin Lewis would not be the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 wasn’t a foreign one to ownership inside 1 Paul Brown Stadium. You don’t let a head coach and his entire coaching staff head into a season in the final year of their deals without a “list.”
The Bengals have theirs.
The club likes to keep things tight to the vest and is expected to do so, but the coaching waters around the franchise have been churning all year. Sunday’s news of Lewis’ decision created whitecaps around the league.
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Now, the search for the 10th head coach in franchise history is in full effect.
Here is a list of potential candidates:
Internal options
Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator
Guenther has been with the Bengals for 13 years and is in his fourth as defensive coordinator. He has experience on the offensive side of the ball in his early days with Washington, has experience on special teams and is the latest of Lewis’ coordinators to find himself on the radar within the league. He was blocked by the Bengals from heading to Washington to start this season, and there is a strong feeling around the league that should he not be the next Bengals head coach he will be elsewhere in 2018.
Darrin Simmons, special teams coordinator
Simmons has also been with Lewis and the club since 2003, and he was the one tabbed to head practice for Lewis when the head coach missed time in training camp with a health issue. Simmons has worked with offensive and defensive players, but he has never worked directly with the core players in each unit.
Outside candidates
The Enquirer has learned who won’t be in play for the Bengals, per a source familiar with their thinking: Jon Gruden (should he decide to return to the sideline), New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Minnesota offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
Each would be prime head coaching candidates and expected to be in the center of discussions for between six and 10 potential openings come the new year. That leaves the pickings thin for offensive minds.
So, if the Bengals decide to totally move in an entirely new direction and with a first-time head coach, here ones to consider:
Jim Bob Cooter, Detroit offensive coordinator
The Bengals’ offense has struggled to score points the last two seasons, and Cooter is widely regarded as the key to Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford unlocking his potential the last two seasons. Promoted in-season during the 2015 campaign, the Lions finished 21st in offense and 20th in scoring in 2016 and have improved to sixth in offense and 14th in scoring so far in 2017.
Frank Reich, Philadelphia offensive coordinator
Is he ready? The former Buffalo Bills backup quarterback is on his second turn as a play-caller after spending 2014-15 in San Diego before being dismissed. He has been with Eagles head coach Doug Pederson the last two seasons and the team improved from 16th in scoring last year to No. 1 in the league this year. They have also improved from 22nd overall to third. In his two years in San Diego, the Chargers finished 9th in total offense in 2015 but 17th and 26th in scoring.
Matt Patricia, New England defensive coordinator
Would the Bengals be willing to wait until perhaps February to name a new coach and fill out a staff? If so, the sixth-year Patriots defensive coordinator will once again be a “hot name” with championship experience. He has an offensive background, having played on and coached the offensive line. Then moved on to coach the linebackers and safeties for the Patriots before assuming his current role.
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Ones to watch
Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns head coach
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam repeatedly and emphatically said Jackson will be his head coach in 2018 and 2019 when he hired new general manager John Dorsey. But when given an opportunity on Cleveland radio to fall in line with that, Dorsey demurred.
Remember, 2018 was supposed to be the year Jackson took over for Lewis had he stayed on as offensive coordinator following the 2015 season. Jackson instead took the head job with the Browns and is 1-28 heading into this weekend’s play.
Multiple league sources have told The Enquirer the feeling around the NFL is it would be hard for the Bengals to sell Jackson to the fan base after coaching in Oakland and Cleveland with a winning percentage lower than David Shula’s, but there is a real feeling among some inside Paul Brown Stadium that ownership would look past that and judge Jackson's candidacy on what he did for the Bengals as an assistant and a coordinator.
Jay Gruden, Washington head coach
This seems like more of a longshot, as Gruden was the first coach Washington owner Dan Snyder extended with two years left on his deal – so the former Bengals offensive coordinator is under contract through 2020. But, Snyder is mercurial and the future of quarterback Kirk Cousins is murky, so it’s worth watching how Snyder views Gruden after four years and one playoff berth.
Others to monitor: Mike Mularkey, Tennesee Titans head coach; Brian Kelly, University of Notre Dame head coach.