The Cincinnati Bengals were the only AFC North team with a head coach over the last couple of weeks until the Baltimore Ravens hired Jesse Minter on Thursday and the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Mike McCarthy on Saturday. McCarthy replaces longtime Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

The Steelers are beginning a new era, as Tomlin resigned after they lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Round on Jan. 12. McCarthy was most recently the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2020 to 2024. Before that, he coached the Green Bay Packers from 2006 to 2018 and won Super Bowl XLV with them.

McCarthy has an offensive background, which Pittsburgh could use given that it finished 17th with 22.4 points per game this past season. However, the team's roster is in flux, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers could retire and running back Kenneth Gainwell is hitting free agency. 

Meanwhile, the Bengals have franchise quarterback Joe Burrow and superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase signed through 2029, while star wideout Tee Higgins is signed through 2028. On top of that, running back Chase Brown is under contract for 2026 after logging 1,300-plus scrimmage yards in each of the last two seasons. 

Cincinnati finished 12th with 24.4 points per game despite missing Burrow for half the season in 2025, and it will return the same offensive core. On the other hand, Pittsburgh will install a new coach and possibly a new quarterback.

The circumstances favor Taylor and the Bengals on paper so long as the front office upgrades the defense this offseason.

Cincinnati finished 30th with 28.9 points allowed per game this past season, and star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson is hitting free agency. If the four-time Pro Bowler leaves, the organization will be even more desperate for defensive help.

But if the Bengals assemble enough talent on defense to be at least average on that side of the ball and if Burrow stays healthy, there's no reason to finish below the Steelers in the standings. On top of Pittsburgh's roster questions, McCarthy has only won one playoff game over his last seven seasons despite having players like future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, superstar receiver CeeDee Lamb, and veteran quarterback Dak Prescott in Green Bay and Dallas. 

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns still don't have a head coach, and neither team made the playoffs this year. Baltimore's roster isn't exceptional outside of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, and Cleveland is still rebuilding.

Cincinnati hasn't made the playoffs since 2022, but the franchise has the chance to experience better days moving forward.