NFL insider predicts Bengals will still face a rival coach twice in 2026 despite his recent firing
Former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski could stay in the AFC North with the Bengals.
The Cincinnati Bengals are watching chaos unfold around them as the AFC North parted ways with every head coach not named Zac Taylor.
John Harbaugh is the belle of the ball in this year’s hiring cycle after the Baltimore Ravens let him go. The Pittsburgh Steelers are searching for their fourth HC since 1969(!) after Mike Tomlin stepped down. The first team in the division to even start their head-coaching search last week was the Cleveland Browns after firing Kevin Stefanski, and they interviewed Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher.
All three coaches have respect around the league, and within the AFC North. It’s a rare sight to see a recently-fired HC get hired by a divisional rival, but there seems to be one match where that could happen, meaning the Bengals will have to keep preparing to face him at least twice in the upcoming season and potentially much longer.
Kevin Stefanski predicted to land Ravens HC gig by ESPN insider
30 years ago is when the Browns became the Ravens, and 30 years later, ESPN’s Dan Graziano predicts Stefanski will go from fired by Cleveland, to hired by Baltimore.
“The Ravens know Stefanski from having played against his Browns teams for the past six years (Baltimore was 8-4 against Stefanski-coached Cleveland teams), and Stefanski is a popular candidate on this circuit. He’s a mid-Atlantic, East Coast guy who would fit in a place like here or New York. Having Lamar Jackson and a winning culture in place makes Baltimore the most appealing landing spot among the current openings. Stefanski had 13 different starting QBs in Cleveland, but he would get a true franchise passer in Jackson in Baltimore.” — ESPN’s Dan Graziano
Stefanski may’ve been the first AFCN coach canned, but he’s the most likely to stay in the division. Harbaugh is being targeted by NFC clubs such as the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, and Tomlin is expected to go into media and take a year off from coaching.
It’s also worth noting Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti’s openness to hiring retread coaches with offensive backgrounds who were stuck coaching teams without a franchise quarterback. Baltimore obviously has Lamar Jackson under center, and the expectation is Jackson will sign a new contract this offseason.
The Ravens have interviewed eight candidates for the job, and Stefanksi was announced as the fourth interview last week.
Cincinnati was 5-7 against the Browns during Stefanski’s six-year year in Cleveland. Him not only staying in the division, but landing with a more successful and stable organization, would not be ideal for the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals News
AFC North rival shows interest in messing up Zac Taylor’s plan for Bengals coaching continuity
Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher is being looked at for a head-coaching gig.
