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The Cincinnati Bengals seemed to be here to stay after making a shocking run to Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season, but things haven’t worked out as planned for Joe Burrow and company. Whether it has been injuries or crushing playoff losses, the Bengals haven’t been able to sniff that same level of success from that magical run.
Following a 2025 season where the Bengals didn’t come all that close to making the playoffs after Burrow missed most of the season with an injury, many fans and pundits called for head coach Zac Taylor and de facto general manager Duke Tobin to be fired. At least one of them was sure to be gone after another disappointing season, but Cincinnati management went the other way. Both Tobin and Taylor were retained as the Bengals look to get back to the postseason.
Executive vice president Katie Blackburn recently spoke about why the duo was retained, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic.
“We think they deserve another opportunity to prove that we can do what we hope we can do,” Blackburn said.
“We obviously are hoping to have a successful season this year,” she later added. “I know they want to do that as much as I want to do that. I can’t predict anything into the future, but we’re certainly counting on, right now, having a good season and going from there.”
Of course, health is the first thing that goes into making the playoffs in Cincinnati. The Bengals have missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons, but Burrow has dealt with wrist and foot injuries during that time. Without their franchise quarterback on the field, it’s going to be very difficult for them to be competitive at the top of the AFC.
Regardless of the health situation, the pressure is on for both Tobin and Taylor to get this Bengals team back to winning. If they can’t do that, Cincinnati could look a lot different at the top at this time next year.
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