The Bengals fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. For now, head coach Marvin Lewis will assume the Bengals’ defensive coordinator responsibilities, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
On Sunday, the Bengals suffered a 51-14 loss at the hands of the Saints. Even without wide receiver Cameron Meredith, the Saints went off for 509 offensive yards and 44 unanswered points after the game was knotted up at 7-7. This was the third straight game in which the Bengals allowed over 500 yards and Austin has been blamed for the defense’s shortcomings.
For the last two years, Austin has been in the mix for head coaching jobs around the league. This year, he pushed for the Lions to promote him from defensive coordinator to head coach after Jim Caldwell was fired, but the team was dead set on hiring Matt Patricia. When that became apparent to Austin, he hooked on with the Bengals to serve under Lewis.
Now, Austin’s time in Cincinnati is up after just one year. And, fair or not, Austin is now even further away from getting his big break as a head coach.
The Bengals are now 5-4, meaning that their playoff hopes are alive, though they have some ground to make up if they hope to beat out the 6-2-1 Steelers for the AFC North crown.
The bengals keep firing Coordinators and nothing changes. But keep Marvin Lewis. Seems like the obvious reason that they have so much talent and always under perform would b the head coach. Not the coordinators
I thought we kidded about the Cleveland Browns but it really is the Cincinnati Browns! Does Haslam own both teams?
That’s funny.. ‘even without Cameron Meredith’
“Fair or not.” In what world is someone being farther away from being a head coach after being the coordinator for a historically bad defense unfair?
As a Steeler fan, I’m not happy about this. But as long as the Bungles keep Marvin Lewis, it’s all OK.
Desperation. But we all know Lewis isn’t going anywhere after signing his extension. Once Paul Brown kicks the bucket then Lewis might have to worry
The most mismanaged franchise in the NFL. I think it’s fair to say that since no team with so much talent over the years has underperformed like that group. How in Hades Lewis keeps that job is unbelievable.
Hey I’m insulted. I’m a Jets fan. Give us our due.
As badly managed as the Jets are, they hold a 17-9 series edge on the Bungles (which includes 2 playoff road wins).
Wow, Austin doesn’t deserve that. The problem has been there 3 years too many.