The Cincinnati Bengals haven't made the playoffs since 2022, but they can't blame offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. They ranked 16th in total offense despite franchise quarterback Joe Burrow missing half of the season due to injury in 2025 and ninth in 2024, which was Pitcher's first year in the position. 

Pitcher joined the Bengals as an offensive assistant in 2016 before becoming assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019 and quarterbacks coach in 2020. They drafted Burrow in the latter year, who led the squad to a Super Bowl appearance in the 2021 campaign and an AFC Championship Game appearance the year after.

Pitcher is now getting interest around the NFL, as he's interviewed for the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator job and will interview for the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. Dehner named a familiar face as a fallback option for Cincinnati if Pitcher skips town this offseason.

"What would the Bengals do if Pitcher leaves? Well, they don’t need to do much," he wrote. "[Head coach Zac] Taylor merely needs to text one of his best friends in coaching and the previous OC, [Brian] Callahan. Fired as Titans head coach after 23 games, Callahan backed away and spent time with family. He’s looking at potentially returning to coaching next year and has taken offensive coordinator interviews with the Bucs and Chargers."

"Cincinnati would open the search and weigh all options, of course, and timing can be tricky with all the jobs that are in the air right now, but Callahan would be the leader in the clubhouse for the job [if Pitcher left] by a wide margin," he continued.

There's little reason to think that Burrow and company wouldn't thrive again under Callahan, who was their offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2023. Cincinnati finished 14th in total yards in 2021 and 11th the year after that.

Of course, Callahan would have Burrow as well as star wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal again too. Since Callahan left, Chase won the receiving Triple Crown in 2024, and Burrow led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns the same year. Running back Chase Brown has also taken a jump, as he's logged over 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns in each of the last two years.

The Bengals need to worry primarily about the defense, as they finished 30th in football with 28.9 points allowed per game in 2025. On top of that, star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson is hitting free agency this offseason, so that unit could get even worse.

Whether Pitcher stays or Callahan replaces him, Cincinnati's offense has the talent to succeed. Fixing the other side of the ball is what will determine whether it breaks its playoff drought in 2026.