It’s reasonable to question whether Johnson will remain in Detroit for another year. Taylor, meanwhile, could attract numerous offers for assistant offensive coaching positions. Could he potentially return to the L.A. Rams?
The Bengals enter their bye week with a 4-7 record following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11. They’ll likely need to win out to have a shot at the playoffs, but their two best players made it clear that head coach Zac Taylor’s job is now in jeopardy after the defeat to the Chargers.
Taylor is under contract through 2026, and Bengals owner Mike Brown isn’t known for paying coaches to not work. Any decision about Taylor’s future is complicated by Brown’s frugality, but with just two playoff appearances in six years (and five years with Joe Burrow), this isn’t the level of success most franchises would accept. If the Bengals end up with a losing record, despite the talent on the roster, firing Taylor would be justified.
If Johnson departs the Lions for a head coaching role, whether after this season or later, one thing would be certain: he’d have a quarterback to work with. The Bengals already have that in Burrow, and if Cincinnati’s job opens up, it would be a highly attractive opportunity for prospective coaches.
A solid roster. A relatively patient (if frugal) owner. A star quarterback. The Bengals have all three, even if Mike Brown’s patience is more about being tight-fisted than forgiving. This could make the Bengals an appealing landing spot for Johnson, should he pursue a head coaching job after the season.
