Will Zac Taylor get fired? Bengals' update reveals most likely outcome for HC

Will Zac Taylor get fired? Bengals’ update reveals most likely outcome for HC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Bengals, after losing to the Baltimore Ravens 24-0 in Week 15, have officially been eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight season.

It’s been a rough go of things in Cincinnati this season, and amid such struggles and a 4-10 record, it’s not a surprise that Zac Taylor is facing questions about his job status.

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic revealed some major insight into where things stand for the Bengals head coach. While the heat is turned on outside the organization, it’s not nearly as hot inside. Taylor, despite the struggles lately, is not expected to be fired after this season.

Bengals expected to make Zac Taylor head coach decision amid 4-10 season

Despite a 4-10 record and missing the playoffs in three straight seasons, along with facing heat from outside the organization, Taylor’s job is likely safe. Dehner writes, «That said, firing Taylor still sounds very unlikely right now.»

Taylor is under contract through the next two seasons, and given the way the Bengals organization operates, Taylor is likely to play out his current contract.

As was the case with Marvin Lewis, who coached in the final year of his contract before being fired due to a 10-game losing streak, the Bengals are likely to keep Taylor as the head coach barring something drastic changing.

Also, Dehner reports that the relationship between Taylor and franchise quarterback Joe Burrow is not in a bad spot, contrary to outside opinion.

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In the same breath as Burrow is the lengthy injury he suffered early this season. The Bengals started the year 2-0, and if Burrow hadn’t gotten hurt, things might’ve looked a lot different.

The Bengals’ ownership is likely to give Taylor another chance, as his team this season, without Burrow, didn’t give him much of an opportunity to create a winning record.

All of these factors – the two more seasons under contract, Burrow’s support, and the injury-plagued season – make the Bengals more likely to retain Taylor for 2026 than fire him.

It’s a conservative ownership group, and while the fanbase is calling for change, the Bengals have a few key reasons to give Taylor another shot at bringing the Bengals back to the playoffs, and potentially the Super Bowl, as he did not too long ago.