The Cincinnati Bengals are dangerously close to losing a key member of the franchise.

According to a report from The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud, Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher is receiving a second interview from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their vacant offensive coordinator job.

Stroud noted that Pitcher is a "strong candidate" to land the job in Tampa.

Bengals QBs coach Dan Pitcher is receiving a second interview with the Bucs and is believed to be a strong candidate to become their next offensive coordinator. https://t.co/NoCd6DQ66W

— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) February 8, 2023

Pitcher is the presumed offensive coordinator in waiting in Cincy. But since current Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan hasn't landed a head coaching job yet, it sounds like Pitcher is looking for play-calling opportunities.

The Bengals could end up in a situation where they lose both assistants (Callahan is still in the mix for the Indianapolis Colts head coaching job).

And that wouldn't be good for Cincy's offense.

Callahan and Pitcher have been Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since entering the NFL in 2020.

Losing both in the same offseason obviously wouldn't be good for continuity.

The good news for Cincinnati is that they have a clear solution if both assistants leave this offseason.

They can simply hire Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady to run their offense.

Brady, a former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator, was LSU's passing game coordinator in 2019 when Burrow had the best season ever by a college football quarterback.

Bringing Brady to Cincy would allow for some important continuity for Burrow.

We'll see how it plays out with Pitcher. But it certainly sounds like there's a good chance he heads south. The Bengals should already be having conversations with Brady just in case they find themselves without an offensive coordinator at some point this month.

Featured image via Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports