Contrary to popular belief, the Cincinnati Bengals were a coveted coaching spot for potential head coaches.
While the organization was viewed as conservative and had a rougher reputation than most because of it, would-be coaches also saw the job security given to someone like Marvin Lewis, who lasted 16 years.
For Zac Taylor, he told Pro Football Talk’s Peter King it was easily his top job:
“A lot of coaches wouldn’t look at this place the way I did among the jobs that were available this year. For me, this would be close to the number one job. No. This IS the number one job. It’s exactly what I want in a coaching job, everything I hoped for.
Taylor also hit the talking points fans have already heard when it comes to loving the city thanks to his time coaching the Bearcats, as well as the organization itself being loyal.
Perhaps more interesting is the on-field outlook. Of the eight head-coach openings, only Green Bay and Cleveland look potentially ready to compete. Some, like Arizona and Miami, are stuck in the throes of a serious rebuild.
As for the Bengals, they can compete now thanks to stars like Geno Atkins and A.J. Green. But they also have a solid talent base to build around for the future, including Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd, William Jackson and Jessie Bates, to name a few.
The fact Taylor says the Bengals were his preferred destination isn’t surprising — but it’s hard to argue with him, too.
