Cincinnati Bengals will bring coach Zac Taylor back for a third season.
In a statement released Monday morning, team chairman Mike Brown said the franchise remains optimistic about Taylor, despite having gone 6-25-1 in the past two seasons.
“We remain optimistic about the foundation that Zac is building and we hope that next year will give our fans the winning results we all want,” said Brown in a statement released by the team.
Brown’s comments came a day after the Bengals (4-11-1) suffered a 38-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at the end of the season and allowed for a franchise record of 404 yards. It was also a rare public comment from Brown, who hasn’t given a press conference since July 2019.
Taylor’s second season brought flashes of optimism after the Bengals finished with the league’s worst record in 2019. Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow, the best overall choice in the 2020 draft, had a promising first season before suffering a knee injury at the end of the season against Washington on November 22. The Bengals managed to defeat Pittsburgh for the first time since 2015 and won their first road competition since week 4 of the 2018 season.
In addition to Burrow, the team had to face several major injuries by the end of the season. Running back Joe Mixon, defensive tackle DJ Reader, cornerback Trae Waynes and left tackle Jonah Williams were among the players who ended the season on reserve due to injuries.
“This season, we face challenges with injuries in key positions and missed opportunities,” said Brown. “I am proud of our football team for fighting hard in adversity. That adversity and hard work will help us next season.”
Bengals will have the fifth choice in the 2021 draft of the NFL.