Bengals HC Zac Taylor makes a surprising choice that can make him a lot busier than he expected to be this month
Zac Taylor is allowing offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher to seek an opportunity he can’t get in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher will interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to become their next OC. Per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Pitcher will interview with the Bucs later this week.
Pitcher recently interviewed for the Cleveland Browns’ head-coaching vacancy, but has not been invited for a second interview along with other candidates such as Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Jacksonville Jaguars OC Grant Udinski, and Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase.
Pitcher can leave for a HC opportunity all by himself, as Cincinnati cannot block him from taking a promotion with another club. The Bengals can block him from taking a different OC gig, which would be a lateral move, but head coach Zac Taylor is actually giving Pitcher the green light to interview in Tampa for a specific reason.
Zac Taylor is allowing Dan Pitcher to pursue play-calling duties
Taylor is the offensive play-caller for Cincinnati, and despite Pitcher having major influence in the process, he ultimately doesn’t have that title next to his name. Taylor is allowing Pitcher to interview with the Bucs, per Rapoport, because Pitcher would be the play-caller there and anywhere else he could be hired as a play-calling OC this year.
Tampa Bay is not the only team that has a HC but is currently without an OC. The Los Angeles Chargers are also in the market for a new offensive play-caller. The Detroit Lions were also in this group before landing former Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing.
Los Angeles interviewed former Bengals OC Brian Callahan for the gig last week, and the Bucs interviewed him two weeks ago. Tampa Bay potentially deciding between Callahan and Pitcher could ultimately decide whom Taylor’s OC will be this year.
Pitcher is only in the mix for Tampa Bay at the moment. If Callahan lands the gig, Cincinnati is more likely to keep its current OC. If Pitcher gets the job, Taylor hiring back Callahan after losing him in 2024 is the Bengals’ expected route. Pitcher only became the OC after Callahan left to become the HC of the Tennessee Titans.
All of this could be avoided if Taylor blocked Pitcher from pursuing a lateral move. Calling plays would be an increase in responsibility for Pitcher, but the job title is the same and Taylor is within his rights to prevent him from leaving. This decision is all the more surprising factoring in what Taylor said earlier in the month.
Taylor put it on record he didn’t plan on making any coaching changes this offseason
Taylor announced during his end-of-season press conference he would not be firing defensive coordinator Al Golden, nor anyone else from his staff. He envisioned getting through the first part of the offseason without any coaching changes, and now is opening the door to a rather significant alteration to his staff.
Perhaps re-hiring Callahan would be the key here. If Taylor knows he can get his original OC back by his side, he would be willing to allow Pitcher to move on an advance his career. Just 39 years of age, Pitcher could leverage a successful play-calling stint into more interviews to become a HC.
The Bengals know how valuable Pitcher is to their staff. The offense has taken a step forward with him leading the room, despite not being the final voice in Joe Burrow’s head before the ball is snapped. Allowing him to leave would require swift action to soften the blow.
Cincinnati is either ready for it, or willing to take the risk anyways.
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