Entering the final week of the 2025 NFL season, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor looks all but certain to keep his job into 2026.
While it's been a disappointing season and a struggle over the last few years, Bengals ownership hasn't shown any indication that Taylor will be gone.
Despite likely coming back to Cincinnati, a report from ESPN's Jordan Raanan indicates that Taylor could be a candidate, and a strong one at that, for the New York Giants head coaching job if he were to be fired by the Bengals.
Zac Taylor would be a strong Giants HC candidate if fired by Bengals
"Who shakes free?" Raanan writes. "Kevin Stefansk is a name to watch. HE will attract serious interest from the Giants if he's fired by the Browns. So too could Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh or Zac Taylor if they somehow become available."
All four of the AFC North head coaches could become candidates for the Giants' job, as they all could realistically be fired from their current jobs.
Stefanski is the most likely to go, while all indications have pointed towards the Bengals sticking with Taylor for at least another year. While Tomlin and Hardbaugh will have some of their future decided by the outcome of Week 18.
But, despite all of the rumors pointing to the Bengals holding onto Taylor, this mention from Raanan is one to keep in mind.
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While Taylor made a Super Bowl and helped coach a few strong Bengals teams, there are still some reservations over whether Taylor is the right coach for the Bengals.
For now, no change looks likely to come. But Raanan's report that Taylor would be of interest to the Giants is worth noting.
He's not shutting down the possibility of Taylor becoming available, which would mean the Bengals fired Taylor when most weren't expecting such a move.
Taylor isn't likely to be fired, but for now, the door cannot be completely closed, as this report has there being a slight chance he could get fired by the Bengals this offseason, and if so, he would be a top choice for the Giants for their new head coach.
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