The Cincinnati Bengals are in the middle of a rough 2025 season. There have been too many injuries to deal with this season, and a 4-10 record has many fans questioning the future of the franchise.
One of the main subjects of those questions is head coach Zac Taylor. With a third straight season missing the playoffs with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, there is some debate as to whether Taylor will return as head coach next season.
According to NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are expected to make a certain decision with Taylor that would likely frustrate many Bengals fans hoping for change.
Bengals expected to make Zac Taylor decision amid rough 2025 season
"Despite a third straight non-playoff season and quarterback Joe Burrow's recent musing about the future," Rapoport and Peliserro write, "there are no signs the Bengals are preparing to make major changes."
The Bengals are 4-10 this season, thanks in large part to Burrow missing significant time from Week 3 until Week 13. He returned on Thanksgiving night and won against the Baltimore Ravens to keep their season alive. But it was too little too late.
Following losses to the Buffalo Bills and then the Ravens in Weeks 14 and 15, the Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention, and were facing many questions about the future of Taylor with the Bengals organization.
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But the lengthy absence from Burrow and the injuries to Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart, and other key players on both sides of the ball make Taylor's job for 2026 safe.
Cincinnati is expecting to keep Taylor as their head coach in 2026 despite such a rouhg 2025 season, and the team missing the playoffs the previous two years.
He is under contract through the 2027 season, and the Bengals organization, patient as ever, is likely to give Taylor a runway through at least 2026. If things are a complete disaster in 2026, then there's a chance he'd get fired.
But, for now, Taylor's job is safe, as the Bengals organization has faith in Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin. Fans hoping for change will have to wait, as Taylor is likely to stay as the head coach for now.
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