Cincinnati Bengals coaching candidates to replace Zac Taylor in 2025, including connections to Joe Burrow

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2024 NFL season looking at it as a shared year with Tee Higgins and possibly Trey Hendrickson in their final seasons with the team. With Cincinnati falling far short of expectations under Zac Taylor, it’s time to start evaluating the Bengals’ 2025 coaching candidates.

We are in no way guaranteed that we will see a Bengals coaching search. This is the same team that kept Mike Brown as head coach for 16 years, despite him not recording a winning season in 10 of those campaigns and never winning a playoff game. However, expectations are rising with quarterback Joe Burrow, and a new head coach may be the best path to improvement.

Connected: 2025 NFL Coaching Candidates

Let’s dive deeper into the Bengals coaching candidates who will replace Taylor next season.

Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator

Ben Johnson is often talked about as one of the top head coaching candidates in 2025, but Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn may be just as good a head coach. Although Glenn is not as well known for his work on the X’s and O’s as Johnson, he is even more famous for his leadership and teaching style.

Connected: 2025 NFL Draft order by round

If Cincinnati is looking for the next Dan Campbell, Glenn could be the guy. After all, he worked with Campbell in both Detroit (2021-24) and New Orleans (2016-20). Not only is Glenn an outstanding leader who has quickly earned the respect of the dressing room, but he has also built one of the best defenses in football despite the absence of Aidan Hutchinson this year. Additionally, Glenn’s years with the Lions and Saints gave him the insight and connections needed to find a quality offensive coordinator and punter to work with Burrow.

Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator

The biggest reason Cincinnati has lost games this season and missed the playoffs is its defense. That’s why our top priority when selecting Bengals coaches is defensive-minded head coaches with extensive experience and a track record of helping young players develop.

• Los Angeles Chargers defense (2023): 5.5 yards per play (26th), 36% opponent passing rate (18th), 96.4 average QB rating allowed (27th), 113.2 rushing per game (18th), 0.019 EPA per game (24th)

Connected: NFL Defensive Rating

• Los Angeles Chargers defense (2024): 5.2 yards per play (10th), 25% opponent completion percentage (1st), average QB rating allowed 82.7 (7th), 110.5 rushes per game (10th) .101 EPA per game (4th)

Jesse Minter served as the Michigan Wolverines’ defensive coordinator for two seasons, overseeing one of the best defenses in college football and winning a national championship with great game plans to stop the best quarterbacks. Jim Harbaugh took him with him to the Los Angeles Chargers, and Minter’s success in one year is one of the most impressive accomplishments by a coordinator in the NFL over the past three seasons.

Minter, who turned 42 in May, had previous NFL experience (Baltimore Ravens, 2017-2020) before joining Los Angeles. He has proven that his schemes work at all levels and has helped young quarterbacks develop at both Michigan and Baltimore. He’s the perfect fit to work with the Bengals’ young secondary and turn this team around. Plus, like Harbaugh, he’ll be the head coach of a team that has a top QB.

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator

If the Bengals are looking for a coach, it’s a safe bet that Cincinnati will allow quarterback Joe Burrow to be part of the process. He’s earned the right to speak his mind, and his opinion may be even more valuable to one of our favorite Bengals coaching candidates, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

Connected: NFL Power Rankings

• Buffalo Bills offense (2024): 5.7 yards per play (10th), 49.1% completion rate (3rd), 28.9 points per game (5th), 63.8% red zone touchdown rate (6th) 1st), 34.0 yards per pass (10th), 2.76 points per pass (4th)

First, Brady was the LSU Tigers’ passing game coordinator during Burrow’s 2019 Heisman Trophy season. He has since learned from his mistakes as an offensive coordinator (2020-21 Carolina Panthers) and has since turned those lessons into outstanding success with the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen. While the offensive concepts may be slightly different, Brady already has a relationship with Burrow and combining them could lead the Bengals offense to greater success. He could also poach someone from Sean McDermott’s staff to become the Bengals’ defensive coordinator.

Liam Cohen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator

If Cincinnati wants to target an offensive-minded head coach with a strong track record and a bright future, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Cohen is a name to keep an eye on. He replaced Dave Canales, who parlayed his tenure as head coach of the Bucs into a head coaching position with the Carolina Panthers. Now Cohen’s offense is superior to what Canales did.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offense (2023): 5.1 yards per play (20th), 20.5 points per game (20th), 41.5% third down conversion rate (10th), 0.008 EPA per play (12th )

Read: NFL Defensive Player of the Year race: See where Cincinnati Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson lands

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense (2024): 5.8 yards per play (8th), 27.9 points per game (5th), 50% third down conversion rate (2nd), 0.095 EA per game (9th)

What’s especially impressive about Cohen’s success this year is that both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin missed multiple games. Even with those two out, Tampa Bay maintains a top-10 offense, and Cohen has completely transformed the Buccaneers’ ground game. While we think Cincinnati needs a defensive-minded coach, Cohen would be a great candidate.