For the first time in a decade and a half, the Cincinnati Bengals have a head coaching position to fill. The Bengals and head coach Marvin Lewis have mutually agreed to part ways at the conclusion of the season.
There are probably people who subscribe to the “there’s no such thing as a mutual parting” school of thought. It would not be hard at all to view this as the firing of Marvin Lewis, with ownership allowing the terminology to be spun a little more positively given the time Lewis has spent in Cincinnati.
However, that assumes Lewis would want to stay. Few people are more qualified to evaluate an NFL team than its head coach. Marvin Lewis has been on the hot seat more than a few times. Some are probably surprised he’s lasted this long with the Bengals. But if Lewis looks at the current roster in Cincy and sees a team in need of a total rebuild – which, at 5-8, things are trending in that direction – what reason(s) would he have to stick around and see another rebuild through?
Back to #Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. When I discussed his future with Lewis last night, he told me being a GM is “something I would listen to.” Both sides seem at peace with a new start. Keep an eye on ST coach Darrin Simmons as a possible replacement.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 17, 2017
This is Lewis’ 15th with the Cincinnati Bengals. That trails only New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (in his 18th year). The Bengals are the only team Marvin Lewis, 59, led as head coach in the NFL. During his tenure, the organization had an overall record of 123-111-3 (as of this writing). In six of those seasons, Cincinnati finished the regular season with a double-digit win total. Plus, they won their division four times with Lewis as coach.
The stain on the Marvin Lewis coaching résumé though will be an inability to win beyond the regular season. In seven postseason appearances, Lewis will ultimately finish with zero playoff wins.
