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Reports: Bengals tap Rams' Zac Taylor to succeed Lewis

Posted at 12:57 AM, Jan 11, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-11 11:09:13-05

CINCINNATI — Ten days after ending their 16-year relationship coach Marvin Lewis, the Cincinnati Bengals may have tapped a successor: Zac Taylor, quarterbacks coach for the No. 5-ranked Los Angeles Rams.

Taylor is the team’s first choice, ESPN reported Thursday evening, and management hopes to hire him as soon as the 13-3 Rams end their season. (No contract negotiations can take place while the team remains in playoffs.)

If selected, the former Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback would be new to the Bengals but not to Cincinnati. He worked as the University of Cincinnati Bearcats’ offensive coordinator in 2016 before departing for the Rams the following year.

SB Nation writer James Brady described Taylor’s offensive background as one that could make him a natural fit for the Bengals’ lineup of high-power offensive players such as Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Joe Mixon.

His connection to the Rams’ lauded head coach Sean McVay, popularly regarded as the NFL's resident Midas, might also be the glimmer of hope long-suffering Bengals fans need to get excited about their team again.

At the very least, multiple outlets argued, there’s one indisputable fact about Taylor that should make fans very happy: He’s not Hue Jackson.