CINCINNATI -- After two regular season games without a touchdown, the Bengals fired offensive coordinator Ken Zampese Friday. Quarterback coach Bill Lazor will serve as his replacement.
NEWS: #Bengals announce that quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor will assume offensive coordinator responsibilities effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/oaLcMEeIo1
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) September 15, 2017
Zampese was promoted to offensive coordinator at the start of last season. Prior to that, he was the quarterbacks coach for 13 seasons.
“Ken Zampese has done a tremendous job for us for my 15 years here, and I have the utmost respect for Ken as a person and as a coach," head coach Marvin Lewis said in a news release. "But I feel it best for the football team to breathe new life into the offense, and that’s why I am making the change."
Lazor was hired as the Bengals' quarterback coach last season following Zampese's promotion. He's coached at the professional level since 2001. He also coached at Cornell -- his alma mater -- and Virginia. Like Zampese, he never played in the NFL.
"Bill Lazor has great experience in the league and as a coordinator, and I feel Bill can progress our offense the way we need," Lewis said. "We have a lot of talent on offense, and we need to keep working to take full advantage of the personnel we have.”
The Bengals lost 13-9 to the Texans Thursday night, bringing their 2017 record to 0-2. On Sunday, the Bengals lost to the Baltimore Ravens in a scoreless game.
Former Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson left Cincinnati for Cleveland in Jan. 2016 after the team to 12-4; the team remained undefeated until game nine.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
The #Bengals offense really misses Hue@WCPO @flying_pigskin— Keenan Singleton (@KJMSingleton) September 15, 2017
At the start of the 2015 season, Zampese's wife, Christine, revealed she had breast cancer. She was vocal and proactive in her battle with the disease; she thanked the quarterback wives and other coaches' wives for their support and help while she underwent radiation and surgery, all during football season.
"The wonderful thing about football is that we’re a family," Christine said in an Oct. 2015 interview. "The Bengals, the coaching staff, the support staff - everybody here – we’re in this together. I have never felt alone."
The Zampese family has two children, Anthony and Marina. Anthony graduated from St. Xavier last year and now attends the University of San Diego. Marina attends Kent State University.
