Overview
- Ownership publicly announced it would keep head coach Zac Taylor and de facto GM Duke Tobin, a decision that gives them one more season to reverse three straight years without a playoff appearance.
- The Bengals spent the spring reshaping the defense, trading the No. 10 overall pick for Dexter Lawrence and adding veterans Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook and safety depth to address a unit that has underperformed.
- Quarterback Joe Burrow has returned healthy, has taken a more forceful leadership role, and compared this roster’s mindset to his 2019 LSU title team while saying the club expects to win every game.
- Analysts continue to pressure Cincinnati’s leadership, with Pro Football Focus naming Taylor among coaches on the hot seat and noting the defense ranked near the league bottom in metrics such as EPA per play and success rate since 2024.
- The next clear milestones are early-season defensive performance and Burrow’s availability, since failure to translate offseason moves into wins would likely prompt major changes after the 2026 campaign.