After the Tennessee Titans hired Brian Callahan as their new head coach, the Cincinnati Bengals needed to pivot. It didn’t take long for the Bengals to do that, either.
On Wednesday, reports emerged that the Bengals planned to promote quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher to offensive coordinator. Pro Football Talk were among those to report the news.
“Bengals to promote Dan Pitcher to offensive coordinator,” PFT posted. PFT made the post on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.
Report: Bengals to promote Dan Pitcher to offensive coordinator. https://t.co/N2Qoi6Xkew
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 24, 2024
Pitcher is an easy choice for the Bengals to tab as their new OC. He obviously has continuity with the offensive unit, and especially quarterback Joe Burrow. The former top overall pick is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Keeping the guy who may have had a hand in that probably felt more imperative than anything.
So the Bengals will trudge on while Callahan enjoys his new digs in Tennessee. The Bengals went to two straight AFC Championship Games in 2021 and 2022. However, that run was cut short this year, as they didn’t make it to the NFL Playoffs for a third straight year.
It will be interesting to see what type of effect Callahan leaves on the Bengals in his absence. He was one of the best coordinators in the NFL. Pitcher will have some serious shoes to fill. But, if his work is indicative of anything so far, they might not skip a beat.
