Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher has already gotten an interview for the Cleveland Browns’ head-coaching opening. Now, he’s getting an interview for another team’s vacant OC spot.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Pitcher will interview for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ OC job this week. Rapoport notes that Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is giving Pitcher the opportunity to interview for other OC jobs that will allow him to become a play-caller, something that Taylor handles with the Bengals.
This is a surprising development, as the Bengals haven’t been the type of organization in the past that allows coaches under contract to interview for the same job elsewhere. In fact, back in 2015, the Bengals blocked then-secondary coach Vance Joseph from interviewing for the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator job.
Thankfully, the Bengals are doing right by Pitcher and allowing him to pursue a promotion. While he may hold the title of offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, becoming a play-caller would be a significant promotion, one that could also help his prospects of becoming a head coach someday.
The Bengals ownership and front office catch a lot of heat, and rightfully so in many cases, but kudos to them for making the right decision here.
Now, we wait to see if Pitcher is about to head elsewhere and leave the Bengals searching for a new OC.