Bengals are trying something new despite confirming suspicions about Zac Taylor, Duke Tobin entering 2026 offseason
Cincinnati is keeping Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin for 2026, but will feature Tobin for media availability like never before.
The Cincinnati Bengals are officially running it back with Zac Taylor as head coach and Duke Tobin as director of player personnel.
Bengals president Mike Brown released a statement Monday morning confirming Taylor and Tobin will be retained in 2026.
“We came into the season with high expectations, coming off four straight winning seasons with leaders in place that took us to a Super Bowl and two AFC Championship games,” Brown wrote in his statement. “We know this season has been frustrating and disappointing. The results fell short of our standards, and missing the playoffs again proves there is more work to do.
“Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level to win championships. After thoughtful consideration, I am confident that Duke Tobin and Zac Taylor are the right leaders to guide us forward.”
You can read the full statement below.
Zac Taylor and Duke Tobin stay in Cincinnati, as expected
Cincinnati hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2022 season. Taylor’s record is 24-27 in the three seasons since that postseason trip. Tobin is the main figurehead in charge of putting the roster together, and recent free agency periods and NFL Draft classes haven’t been up to snuff.
Moving on from either, however, appeared unlikely even when the team was at its lowest this past year. The Bengals are notorious for their patience, and the two most important leaders below the Brown family are sticking around.
This isn’t the news many fans wanted after Cincinnati’s 6-11 campaign. Despite the Bengals finishing 2025 with their first losing season in five years, the operation inside Paycor Stadium appears to be beyond stale. Trust in the process is at a disturbingly low level, and with Joe Burrow exiting his sixth season and, later this year, his 20s, pressure is mounting at an unprecedented level. Burrow himself put the front office on notice before entering the offseason.
Brown’s statement is hardly a reassurance for the fan base, but there is at least something new to note coming later this week.
Bengals are at least taking a step forward with Tobin
Following the announcement of Tobin’s retention, the Bengals will make their director of player personnel available to media members Friday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
While this may appear mundane on the surface, it’s a significant step for Cincinnati. Tobin has traditionally been available to the media only a few times per year, and he has never spoken directly after the regular season. His usual time slots include the NFL Scouting Combine, the NFL Draft, and the team’s annual media luncheon right before the start of training camp.
Answering questions immediately after the franchise’s worst season since the start of the decade is a step toward accountability. Taylor has been the only figure available to speak on the organization’s shortcomings, which oftentimes have nothing to do with his job description.
Tobin, while he’s not an actual general manager, is the one the Bengals point to as their roster constructor. The more responsibilities they grant him, the more transparent and simplified their process becomes.
It will be imperative for Tobin to be pressed later this week. Cincinnati failed to build a playoff-caliber roster despite Burrow missing half the season with turf toe. His speaking now is an opportunity to lay out expectations for what needs to happen to avoid past mistakes.
The Bengals normally hide from this as much as possible, opting for ambiguity and asking for trust. Putting Tobin in front of a microphone the first week of the offseason is not all the progress they need to make, but it’s a step in the right direction.
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