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Cincinnati Bengals News & Rumors

Bengals Extend TE Tanner Hudson

By | at January 19, 2026 6:22 pm

The Bengals are keeping Tanner Hudson around for at least another year. The team announced that they’ve signed the tight end to a one-year extension.

Following stints with the Buccaneers, 49ers, and Giants to begin his career, Hudson joined the Bengals practice squad late in the 2022 campaign. He stuck around Cincinnati for the following three seasons, getting into 38 games with the organization.

His best season came in 2023, when he hauled in 39 catches for 352 yards. He’s followed that up with 19-catch showings in both 2024 and 2025. This past season, Hudson got into a career-high 15 games, although he was limited to only 148 offensive snaps. He found himself fourth on the depth chart to begin the season, but he was mostly splitting reps with Noah Fant and Mike Gesicki behind Drew Sample by the time the season ended.

After inking a one-year, $1.255MM deal to stick with the Bengals last offseason, Hudson was set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason. Instead, he’ll be sticking with Cincy through the offseason and likely through the 2026 campaign. Fant is also an impending free agent, so perhaps Hudson could find himself higher on the depth chart next season.

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Buccaneers To Conduct OC Interview With Dan Pitcher

By | at January 19, 2026 1:34 pm

The list of Buccaneers candidates to replace Josh Grizzard continues to grow. Dan Pitcher will be the latest staffer to speak with the team about its offensive coordinator opening.

An interview between the parties will take place this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Pitcher has previously spoken with Tampa Bay for the OC spot. He remained in place with the Bengals during the 2024 offseason, however, with Brian Callahan taking the Titans’ head coaching position that year. That departure resulted in Pitcher being promoted from QBs coach to offensive coordinator.

Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor has handled play-calling duties since his arrival. That will continue moving forward. As Rapoport notes, Taylor granted Pitcher permission to seek out a lateral move to another OC gig if it were to allow him the opportunity to call plays. That would be the case in Tampa Bay. The Bucs were impressed with Pitcher the first time he interviewed with them, per Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.

Pitcher, 39, first entered the NFL in 2013 with the Colts as part of their scouting department. His entire tenure on the sidelines has come as a member of the Bengals’ staff, though. Pitcher conducted an interview with the Browns for their head coaching position, but an OC gig would be more realistic in his case. It will be interesting to see if further coordinator interviews are lined over the coming days.

A long list of candidates has emerged for the Bucs as their search for a Josh Grizzard replacement continues. Callahan himself, along with Falcons OC Zac Robinson, Cardinals QBs coach Israel Woolfork, Lions pass-game coordinator David Shaw, former Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, Ravens offensive coordinator (and former Tampa OC) Todd Monken and recently-fired Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel have all been connected to the position.

Taylor has expressed an expectation the Bengals will not see much in the way of staff turnover this offseason. Losing Pitcher would obviously be notable, however, and with play-calling opportunities available elsewhere he could soon be on the move.

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Browns Arrange HC Interviews With Dan Pitcher, Aden Durde

By | at January 9, 2026 8:59 am

Earlier this week, Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde each received a head coaching interview request from the Browns. Both have accepted.

Per a team announcement, interviews with both Pitcher and Durde will take place today. As required by NFL rules, they will be conducted virtually. These will mark the first two interviews of outside candidates for the position, after Tommy Rees and Jim Schwartz both interviewed for the chance to replace Kevin Stefanski.

To date, Pitcher has only been connected to the Browns’ HC opening. The 38-year-old entered the NFL as a scout with the Colts, but his coaching tenure has consisted entirely of work with the Bengals. Pitcher joined Cincinnati in 2016, and over time he worked his way up to quarterbacks coach. When Brian Callahan departed in 2024 to become the Titans’ head coach, Pitcher replaced him as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator.

Head coach Zac Taylor remained Cincinnati’s play-caller after Pitcher’s promotion. That is likely to continue into 2026, and Taylor does not intend to make any major staff changes this offseason. Pitcher will look into at least one head coaching opportunity during this year’s cycle, though.

Durde, 46, has seen his stock rise over the course of his time as an NFL coach. A former Cowboys and Falcons intern, he drew strong reviews for his work as a position coach during later stints in Atlanta and Dallas. That resulted in Durde’s first coordinator opportunity in 2024. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has called plays on defense for Seattle, but Durde has served as a key staffer for the unit. In 2025, the NFC’s top seed ranked No. 1 in scoring defense. That has landed Durde at least one interview, but more could follow in the near future.

Here is an updated look at where Cleveland’s HC search stands:

  • Aden Durde, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): To interview 1/9
  • John Harbaugh, former head coach (Ravens): Rumored mutual interest
  • Mike McDaniel, former head coach (Dolphins): Rumored candidate
  • Todd Monken, offensive coordinator (Ravens): Interview requested
  • Dan Pitcher, offensive coordinator (Bengals): To interview 1/9
  • Tommy Rees, offensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
  • Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Browns): Interviewed 1/8
1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Seattle Seahawks

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Following a wild-card loss, the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are separating after 19 years. Now, after an overtime divisional-round loss in Denver, Sean McDermott is out in Buffalo.

The 10 HC openings are tied with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022 for the most in one year. Here are the candidates connected to all those searches. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-1-26 (4:00pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

12 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/26

By | at January 7, 2026 9:37 pm

Today saw four teams establish reserve/futures deals for next year:

Cincinnati Bengals

  • WR Dohnte Meyers

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Minnesota Vikings New Orleans Saints New York Giants San Francisco 49ers Transactions Washington Commanders

Browns To Hold HC Interviews With Jim Schwartz, Tommy Rees; Interview Requested With Bengals’ Dan Pitcher

By | at January 7, 2026 11:52 am

The Browns fired head coach Kevin Stefanski on Monday, but it’s possible his replacement will come from the staff he assembled. The team will conduct head coaching interviews with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees on Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports.

While the Browns will discuss the position with Schwartz and Rees, they’re also hoping to meet with Bengals O-coordinator Dan Pitcher. The Browns have requested an interview with Pitcher, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

The 59-year-old Schwartz is the lone member of this trio with head coaching experience. He spent five years as Detroit’s head coach from 2009-13, though success largely eluded the franchise during that stretch.

The Lions went 10-6 and earned a playoff berth in 2011, but they missed the postseason in every other year under Schwartz. They fired him after he posted a 29-51 record.

A longtime D-coordinator in Tennessee before he moved to Detroit, Schwartz has worked on defensive staffs with the Bills, Eagles, Titans and Browns since 2014. He won Super Bowl LII as the Eagles’ coordinator in 2017. Schwartz has also enjoyed success since heading to Cleveland in 2023.

The Browns finished tops in the league in total defense in Schwartz’s first season, their most recent playoff campaign. Although the team logged a horrid 5-12 record in 2025, its defense ranked fourth in yardage and 14th in points. Defensive end Myles Garrett, the Browns’ franchise player, set the single-season sack record in taking down opposing quarterbacks 23 times. Garrett has made it clear that he loves playing for Schwartz, which could better the coach’s chances of a promotion.

Schwartz’s defense held its own in 2025, but the same wasn’t true for Rees’ offense. The unit, which didn’t find an answer at quarterback among Joe Flacco (traded to the Bengals in October), Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, racked up the second-fewest yards and third-fewest points in the league. It’s worth pointing out that Rees did not handle play-calling duties the entire way. Stefanski handed him those responsibilities in early November.

A former Notre Dame quarterback, Rees served in prominent coaching roles with the Fighting Irish from 2017-22. Rees worked as their quarterbacks coach before adding O-coordinator duties to his resume in 2020. He held the same positions in 2023 at Alabama, where he was an assistant to Nick Saban in the legendary head coach’s last season.

Rees jumped to the pros the next season when Stefanski brought him aboard as a pass game specialist and tight ends coach. He was a candidate to become North Carolina’s head coach last offseason, but that job went to Bill Belichick.

While the 33-year-old Rees also interviewed for Penn State’s HC vacancy last month, the Nittany Lions chose Matt Campbell instead. A few weeks later, Rees will garner some consideration at the NFL level.

Pitcher, 38, began his NFL career as a scout with the Colts in 2012. He worked under current Browns general manager Andrew Berry, then the Colts’ pro scouting coordinator, for four years. That may give Pitcher an advantage in the Browns’ Berry-led coaching search.

A coach since 2016, Pitcher has spent a decade on the Bengals’ staff. He began as an offensive assistant before later becoming the Bengals’ QBs coach in 2020, Joe Burrow‘s rookie year. Burrow has been one of the league’s premier signal-callers when healthy, though injuries have been a frequent issue. He was fully healthy in 2024, Pitcher’s first season as offensive coordinator. The Bengals had a top 10 offense then.

Burrow missed nine games with a toe injury in 2025, leaving Pitcher to work with Flacco for a six-start stretch. The Bengals ended the year a respectable 12th in scoring and a slightly below-average 17th in yards.

If Pitcher doesn’t land a head coaching job this offseason, it seems likely he’ll remain in Cincinnati. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Monday that he doesn’t expect to make changes to his staff.

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Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt Pleads Guilty To Reckless Driving

By | at January 6, 2026 12:51 pm

Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt entered a guilty plea to charges of reckless driving and driving without a license on Tuesday, as detailed by Cameron Knight and Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

The plea led to Taylor-Britt being immediately sentenced in Hamilton County Municipal Court. He is set to spend five days in jail as a result. Separate charges of drag racing and failing to obey roadway signs were dropped by prosecutors as part of the plea agreement.

Taylor-Britt was issued tickets on two separate occasions in 2025. The first was in June when police stated he drove recklessly on Fourth Street in downtown Cincinnati. Five occupants were inside the Dodge Charger Taylor-Britt was driving at the time.

The second incident stemmed from an incident involving Tayl0r-Britt driving a Jeep Cherokee on Joe Nuxhall Way. Tickets were issued in September for driving with a restricted license in addition to the charges which ultimately would up being dropped. The 26-year-old was admitted to the Hamilton County Justice Center late Tuesday morning. No comment has been made as of yet by his representation or the Bengals.

A second-round pick of Cincinnati in 2022, Taylor-Britt has made 47 appearances and 40 starts over the course of his career. The Nebraska product is set to see his rookie contract expire this spring in advance of his first trip to free agency. Taylor-Britt totaled seven interceptions and 27 pass deflections between the 2023 and ’24 seasons, but this year did not go according to plan. A Lisfranc injury resulted in season-ending surgery, limiting him to just eight games.

The injury and today’s legal developments will no doubt hinder Taylor-Britt’s market value. As the Enquirer piece notes, he is not expected to re-sign with the Bengals this offseason.

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Bengals HC Zac Taylor Does Not Anticipate Coaching Changes

By | at January 5, 2026 10:59 pm

The Bengals announced on Monday that head coach Zac Taylor would stay in place in 2026 on Monday. Taylor, in turn, told reporters (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that he would not be making changes to the rest of his coaching staff.

That means offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, defensive coordinator Al Golden, and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons will all return for next season. None of the three seemed likely to garner interest for a head coaching job elsewhere, which was the only other way they would depart Cincinnati this offseason.

In his two years as OC, Pitcher’s offense has consistently been among the best in the league when Joe Burrow is healthy. Like any offense that loses a star quarterback, the Bengals immediately struggled after Burrow’s injury. Pitcher struggled to get the best out of backup Jake Browning, but a trade for Joe Flacco set the offense on fire for three game before the Bengals’ bye. After two rough games coming out of the bye, Burrow returned to the field, as did the offense to their usual heights (outside of getting shut out by the Ravens in Week 15). Though Pitcher has struggled to get Cincinnati’s running game going, that has been a perennial problem from the franchise that has to do with more than just coaching.

Golden was hired last offseason to improve a defense that ranked 25th in points and yards allowed last season. Instead, Cincinnati regressed to 30th and 31st, respectively, raising speculation that he could leave after just one season. Taylor has decided to stick with Golden, perhaps in the hopes that he can better re-acclimate to the NFL after spending three years at Notre Dame.

Cincinnati’s special teams ranked fourth in the NFL with a 90.6 team grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Kicker Evan McPherson bounced back after a rough start and punter Ryan Rekhow ranked among the league’s top punters. In other words, there is no reason to remove Simmons from his job; his unit was arguably the team’s most consistent throughout the season.

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NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/5/26

By | at January 5, 2026 8:00 pm

We’ve got our first batch of reserve/futures contracts to pass along. These moves allow organizations to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

  • OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, WR Cornelius Johnson, DT David Olajiga, DB Amani Oruwariye, G Jared Penning, DB Marquise Robinson, LB Kaimon Rucker, FB Lucas Scott

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

  • CB Dalys Beanum, CB Beanie Bishop, WR Elijah Cooks, S Elliott Davison, DT Coziah Izzard, OT Easton Kilty, CB Jayden Price, OT Barry Wesley

New York Giants

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

1 comment Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions Indianapolis Colts Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Minnesota Vikings New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions Washington Commanders
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