»ANALYSIS: 5 takeaways from season-ending win over Steelers
Anarumo had been on Zac Taylor’s staff since Taylor was hired as head coach in 2019, and he is the first coordinator to lose his job. Former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan departed to become the Titans’ head coach last offseason to mark the first coordinator change.
Bettcher, who was previously the 49ers senior defensive assistant, had been with the Bengals since 2022 when he stepped in to replace Al Golden, who departed to become Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator after the 2021 Super Bowl run. Cincinnati’s linebackers struggled with missed tackles this season and had taken a step back following the 2022 season when the Bengals last made the playoffs.
Hobby was in his 10th NFL season and fourth with the Bengals in 2024, and he played a significant role in Trey Hendrickson’s production over the last four years, but wasn’t able to get enough production elsewhere on the defensive line.
Hendrickson finished with an NFL-best 17.5 sacks this season and was selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl. No one else on the team had more than 5.0 sacks.
The defense’s improvement over the final five games just wasn’t enough to save jobs.
The Bengals lost their first three games and four of their first five, while even the offense struggled at times, but they were 4-8 before the defense turned things around. They finished 25th in both points (25.5 per game) and yards allowed (348.3 per game), and those numbers were much higher over the first 12 games.
Cincinnati allowed an average of just 18.8 points over the final five games.
While most of the team’s issues centered around the defense, the offense had its weaknesses, as well.
The Bengals struggled with injuries on their offensive line this season, particularly at the tackle positions, but the interior guard play saw a significant drop-off and Joe Burrow was sacked 48 times, which was tied for the 11th most in the league. Burrow still managed to lead the league with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdowns, and Ja’Marr Chase won the receivers’ triple crown with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns.
Changes will be needed on the offensive line and a new assistant will be a part of that process.
Pollack had joined Taylor’s staff in 2021 – with the added distinction of run game coordinator – after things didn’t work out with Jim Turner the first two seasons. An 18th-year veteran assistant coach in the NFL, Pollack had previously served as the Bengals’ offensive line coach in 2018, and Taylor was looking for someone to help overhaul an offensive line that needed to protect the 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick.
Taylor is set to meet with the media Monday afternoon.
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