Stephen A. Smith believes Zac Taylor's success is tied to Joe Burrow, questioning his ability to win without his star quarterback.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith sharply criticized the Cincinnati Bengals’ decision to retain head coach Zac Taylor, asserting that Taylor cannot lead the team successfully without Joe Burrow under center. On a recent First Take segment, Smith responded to news that the Bengals would keep Taylor and his coaching staff in place for the 2026 season despite another disappointing finish.
“That man need to go. He can’t coach without Joe Burrow. At all,” Smith said during the broadcast, arguing that Taylor’s coaching résumé is overly dependent on Burrow’s presence and talent.
Smith pointed to Cincinnati’s repeated struggles and slow starts in recent seasons, suggesting that Taylor has not demonstrated the capacity to guide the franchise when the spotlight is brightest.
Smith’s comments have intensified ongoing debate among fans and media about Taylor’s future, particularly given the Bengals’ recent underperformance relative to their offensive firepower. Some analysts and supporters of Taylor note his past achievements, but Smith remains among the most vocal critics calling for a coaching change.
Zac Taylor’s Mixed Record With and Without Joe Burrow
A central argument in Smith’s critique is the contrast in the Bengals’ performance with Burrow versus without him, highlighting Taylor’s uneven results as a head coach. Since taking over in 2019, Taylor’s record has varied dramatically depending on whether Burrow is starting at quarterback.
That discrepancy feeds into the narrative that Taylor’s coaching success has been tightly coupled with Burrow’s availability. Critics argue that a truly elite coach should be able to keep a team competitive even amid key injuries, while supporters counter that losing quarterbacks is one of the toughest challenges for any coaching staff.
Taylor’s overall head coaching tenure also includes early seasons of struggle before Burrow’s arrival. Cincinnati went 2-14 in his first year after he was hired before deep playoff runs after drafting Burrow first overall in 2020. Those peaks and valleys have made his tenure difficult to evaluate in simple terms, but inconsistency outside Burrow’s starts remains a key talking point among critics like Smith.
Why the Bengals Are Reportedly Keeping Zac Taylor
The Bengals’ decision to keep Taylor for another season is reportedly tied to support from key players in the locker room. Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Burrow has been a consistent voice of support for Taylor within the organization, as have other key players such as Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Will the Bengals’ choice to retain Taylor pay off in the long run? It remains to be seen.