CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 02: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Paul Brown Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was able to earn himself some more job security thanks to this year’s run to the Super Bowl.
This morning, the Bengals announced a contract extension for Taylor through the 2026 season. After winning six regular season games in his first two years, Taylor helped lead the Bengals to the AFC North title and conference championship in 2021.
“I think the city of Cincinnati sees him the way the players and I do. He’s brought excitement to the town and deserves credit and recognition for that,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement.
The jury was out on Taylor heading into the 2021 campaign, but most analysts seem to agree that the Bengals’ decision to extend his contract was a fair one.
There wasn't a lot of choice with Zac Taylor entering the last year of his deal, but anecdotally it seems like teams don't mind at all buying high on coaches/GMs.
Lots of extensions right after a SB win or appearance. I guess with no cap implications cost isn't a concern
— Kevin Cole (@KevinColePFF) February 16, 2022
Pretty good timing!
The Bengals extended Zac Taylor today—a move they had to make but there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of it.
I wrote about the dilemma for the @ringer.https://t.co/ZkFSrYqrgO
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) February 16, 2022
2021 was going to be a make-or-break year for Zac Taylor after six wins in two seasons.
Under that pressure, Cincinnati made the Super Bowl and he gets a contract extension. Hard to verbalize how impressive that is.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) February 16, 2022
Zac Taylor on extension: "This isn’t really about me. This is about all the people in this building working toward a really solid future for all of us."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) February 16, 2022
Zac Taylor extended through 2026. Well deserved.
— Lindsay Patterson (@LndsPatterson) February 16, 2022
It’s weird to see NFL coaching contract news because I’m so used to college and seeing, like, a 10-year extension into 2032 https://t.co/I6Z8nBV9vm
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) February 16, 2022
2019 season: 2-14
2020 season: 4-11
2021 season: AFC Champions, contract extension ✍️There were petitions, articles, and even Facebook groups calling to fire Zac Taylor over the last two years.
He coached the Bengals to a Super Bowl and just received an extension through 2026. pic.twitter.com/61fIumDgT4
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 16, 2022
Zac Taylor extended! pic.twitter.com/A65jCtMuCU
— Faux Joey Brrr (@FauxJeaux) February 16, 2022
With Taylor locked in, the next big contract for the Bengals will be quarterback Joe Burrow’s. Burrow is eligible to begin negotiating a long-term extension next offseason.
Expect Cincinnati to offer him a small fortune when the time comes.
