Explanations for why the Cincinnati Bengals finished 6-11 have been stated many times. Joe Burrow missed half the season with turf toe. The defense was historically awful for the first nine games. A miscalculated offseason featuring minimal free agency impact, and a risky NFL Draft class paved the way for a frustrating year in every sense of the word.

Decisions the Bengals made last year had immediate consequences, but some of their choices proved to be wise when the season progressed.

Beyond the acts of extending Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, starting Myles Murphy, and obvious moves that should’ve happened last year, these five decisions (in chronological order) ended up working out well for Cincinnati in 2025, and there are reasons why they will positively impact how 2026 turns out.

1. Hiring Scott Peters as offensive line coach

Next to hiring defensive coordinator Al Golden, hiring offensive line coach Scott Peters was head coach Zac Taylor’s most important call to make 12 months ago when he was re-tooling his staff. The Bengals’ o-line has either underwhelmed or held back their offense for the majority of Taylor’s tenure. Frank Pollack just wasn’t developing the unit like Cincy needed, so finding a replacement who could get the most out of the existing talent and future young players was crucial.

Peters, a past apprentice of Taylor’s former college coach Bill Callahan, ended up being the perfect coach for the job. The Bengals became much more effective creating pockets from the inside-out, and tweaks to their wide zone blocking opened up doors for the run game. Right tackle Amarius Mims took notable steps forward as a starter, and two other starters we’ll get to in a minute were fantastic as well.

Taylor made the right call with Peters, as he did with keeping one of his defensive assistants.

2. Retaining Charles Burks as cornerbacks coach

Taylor starting from scratch on defense meant uncertain futures for the assistants who worked under former DC Lou Anarumo. A new defensive line coach, linebackers coach, and two other assistants were brought in by Golden.

Burks was a priority to keep around, and for good reason.

The best part of Cincinnati’s otherwise porous defense was its cornerback play. DJ Turner II played at a should’ve-been-Pro-Bowl level, Dax Hill emerged as a real starter across the formation from him after moving from the slot, and Jalen Davis filled Hill’s spot at nickelback like nothing ever happened. It’s very possible the Bengals have their 2026 starting corners and nickel on the roster right now, and Burks will continue to coach all of them.

3. Drafting Dylan Fairchild

Sometimes drafting need ends up working out. Cincinnati needed a guard more than any other position entering the 2025 NFL Draft, and entered the third round still without drafting one. Peters mad sure to leave Day 2 of the draft with Fairchild, whom he connected with during the pre-draft process.

The consensus saw Fairchild as a bit of a reach in Round 3, not the kind of reach Demetrius Knight Jr. was a round earlier, but a slight reach nonetheless. Peters needed to get him ready to start immediately at left guard, and not look totally lost.

Mission accomplished.

Fairchild was one of the best rookie o-linemen to start most, if not all, of the 2025 season. He was the best pass-protecting rookie guard in the league during the second half of the season. He looked like he was a year ahead of schedule, and is still just 22 years old.

Finally, for the first time since Clint Boling and Kevin Zeitler, the Bengals have a truly promising young guard.

4. Signing Dalton Risner

Risner is almost a decade older than Fairchild, but was just as effective as the rookie once he got settled in as a starter. It wasn’t even a given he would be on the team entering August.

Cincinnati signed Risner following final cuts just to fill out its o-line room. Starting him wasn’t the plan out the gate, but the reason why he was needed in the building became the reason why he started the final seven games of the season. He held up in pass-pro even better than expected during that stretch, and solidified the line in a way the club should be wanting to run back next season. Luckily, he wants the same.

“I want to I want to play for this organization,” Risner said following Week 18. “I want to be a Cincinnati Bengal.”

Signing Risner in the first place gives the Bengals an advantage for 2026. They can extend his contract at any point leading up to free agency, and it could not be an easier layup for the organization.

5. Allowing DJ Turner II to prove himself

Turner wasn’t a hire, rookie draft pick, or free agent signing. He was a third-year player looking to establish himself as a starter, but ended up losing his battle by the end of training camp. Instead of wallowing in defeat, Turner made a game-winning interception in Week 1, and started every game afterwards on his way to becoming a Pro Bowl alternate with 18 passes defensed.

Burks’ coaching was a factor in Turner’s breakout season, but Cincy keeping the CB position fluid allowed Turner to assert himself when the games began, and he never looked back. A contract extension is now on the table for him this offseason.

The Bengals need many more stories like Turner’s to unfold if 2026 is to be much better.

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John Sheeran