New Bengals assistant coach already had a special connection with Cincinnati before being hired
NFL coaching hires can ultimately come down to who you know. But when it came to new offensive pass game coordinator, Justin Rascati, he didn't know anyone with the Cincinnati Bengals. Rascati's previous stints with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings saw him crossing zero paths with Bengals head coach Zac Taylor or anyone already a […]
NFL coaching hires can ultimately come down to who you know. But when it came to new offensive pass game coordinator, Justin Rascati, he didn't know anyone with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Rascati's previous stints with the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings saw him crossing zero paths with Bengals head coach Zac Taylor or anyone already a part of the franchise.
His lone connection had nothing to do with the Bengals at all, rather the city they're based in.
Per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr., Rascati and his wife have close friends who live in Cincinnati, giving them something familiar in moving for a new opportunity.
"Rascati started his college career at Louisville where he met his wife, Jennifer, who is from there. They have close friends living on the east side of Cincinnati. Their three boys, Rhett, Rhys and Riley, could be heard in the background of a phone call Friday as Rascati juggled selling a house, starting a new job and pulling off a move his family — and his career path — long hoped would come." – The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.
Friendly faces in an unknown place is absolutely a positive, but Rascati wouldn't be coming to Cincy if he also wasn't a good fit with what the Bengals are trying to accomplish.
Though Taylor never worked with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, the two previously learned from Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. Early iterations of their own offenses resembled McVay's schemes and concepts, and Rascati got familiar with them working under O'Connell in Minnesota.
As the Bengals look to go under center more often in the passing game with play action, the addition of Rascati gives him added confidence in returning to his roots.
“It’s a repeat of all the things I used to do five years ago when I was in L.A.," Taylor said of Rascati's knowledge of the Rams' system. "And a great reminder of some things we can do again now.”
Becoming a more dynamic and diverse offense remains the evolution the Bengals must take. Rascati's expertise will be crucial in its success.
Bengals go out of their way to bring in new assistant coach
Cincinnati announced new hires to its coaching staff.
