The Cincinnati Bengals are staying their course for the 2026 season. Team president Mike Brown officially announced on Monday whether both head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin would keep their jobs. This decision comes in light of a difficult season that saw the team miss the playoffs, a result Brown described as “frustrating and disappointing.”

“Our focus is on building a team that can consistently compete at the highest level with a goal of winning championships,” read the statement posted by the team on X. “After thoughtful consideration, I am confident that Duke Toblin and Zac Taylore are the right leaders to guide us forward. They have proven they can build and lead teams that compete for championships. We trust their plans and expect to return to our desired level of success.”

In the statement shared by the team, Brown acknowledged that the season fell short of the high standards set in previous years. He noted that after four straight winning seasons, which included a trip to the Super Bowl and two AFC Championship appearances, the recent lack of success shows there is still significant work to be done. But he emphasized that the organization isn’t ready to part ways with the team’s leaders who made the winning moments possible. 

Truly, the Bengals’ 2025 season didn’t go as planned, ending with a lackluster 6-11 record. The year was defined by bad luck, starting with a major injury to star quarterback Joe Burrow and followed by a defense that never found its footing. Although many fans hoped these struggles would trigger a coaching or management shakeup, the team owners have decided to keep everything exactly as it is.

Head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin are both officially returning for the 2026 season. The organization is choosing to stay the course, giving the duo at least one more year to fix the issues that plagued the team last year. Unless next season is another total disaster, they will likely remain in charge until their current contracts expire in 2027.

For now, the Bengals are betting on stability over a rebuild. By keeping Taylor and Tobin in their roles, the front office is signaling that they believe the 2025 failures were a fluke caused by injuries rather than a lack of leadership. Fans will now look toward 2026 to see if this decision pays off with a return to the playoffs. 

Even though the 18-week NFL regular season for 2025 has officially wrapped up, the league’s disciplinary review isn’t quite finished, with a final round of punishments scheduled to be handed down this Saturday.

The Bengals might be awaiting a fine to be imposed because of what transpired during the Browns game

The Cincinnati Bengals, who lost to the Browns with a score of 20-18, might have more bad news lined up. The team’s pass-rusher, Cedric Johnson, might be facing a fine from the NFL league office this week. Why?

During the second quarter of a recent game with just 9 minutes and 44 seconds remaining, Johnson hit quarterback Shedeur Sanders in the head and neck area, resulting in a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty.

Because the NFL is strict about hits to the head, this often leads to a fine. For example, Jets player Jermaine Johnson was recently fined over $17,000 for a similar play.

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The Silver Lining. While the penalty was called, many observers felt the contact was minor. Johnson and the Bengals are hoping the league decides the flag was enough punishment and skips the fine. 

Even if he is charged, Johnson has the right to appeal his case to a panel of former players like Derrick Brooks or Jordy Nelson.

Despite the penalty drama, Johnson had a strong performance on the field. He sacked Sanders later in the game, marking the second game in a row where the young defender has recorded a sack.