Jan. 29, 2026, 5:30 a.m. ET<\/p>\n
The Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> earned their fair share of criticism for the decision to stick with Zac Taylor and his coaching staff after another playoff miss.\u00a0<\/p>\n But it was nothing compared to the heat the rest of the AFC North is taking right now.<\/p>\n Now that every team in the AFC North has made head-coaching hires, things look like this:\u00a0<\/p>\n Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike McCarthyCleveland Browns: Todd MonkenBaltimore Ravens: Jesse MinterCincinnati Bengals<\/a>: Zac Taylor<\/p>\n RELATED:Bengals draft outlook: The last 10 picks at No. 10 overall<\/a><\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n The Pittsburgh Steelers going with a 62-year-old Mike McCarthy<\/a>, could mean more Aaron Rodgers. Understandably, that has been viewed as the organization simply extending the Mike Tomlin era, for the most part.\u00a0<\/p>\n And the Cleveland Browns have been lambasted for the obvious internal chaos. After deciding to hire Todd Monken, word broke that Jim Schwartz, despite being under contract, is done with the organization due to anger<\/a> about\u2026not getting the head-coaching job.\u00a0<\/p>\n By far the best hire of the cycle for the division is Jesse Minter with the Baltimore Ravens<\/a>. Minter had already been with the organization previously and turned up some elite defenses with little to work with in Los Angeles, so he feels like a natural Baltimore hire.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Bengals are betting big on continuity and it only seems to add pressure that the rest of the AFC North underwhelmed at best while undergoing dramatic resets.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bengals\u2019 key deadline will signal cut candidate\u2019s fate<\/a> Bengals get an important free agent contract done early<\/a> Bengals players who regressed the most in 2025<\/a> Bengals contract extension candidates this offseason<\/a> Bengals draft outlook: The last 10 picks at No. 10 overall<\/a><\/p>\n