“Growing Sense” Hue Jackson Could Be In Line To Replace Marvin Lewis As Bengals’ HC

Update:

Jay Glazer confirms that Hue Jackson could be a candidate for the Bengals’ job if the team performs well over the remainder of the season. Glazer expects Marvin Lewis to move on after this season.

According to Jason La Canfora, there’s a “growing sense” around the league that Hue Jackson could be in line to take over as Bengals head coach if Marvin Lewis were to retire or transition to a front office role.

La Canfora says that the decision to hire Jackson after the Browns fired him is being viewed as a potential succession plan by several other owners and GMs preparing for their own coaching searches.

Lewis and Jackson are very close friends and the Bengals’ organization thinks highly of Jackson. In fact, La Canfora adds that Jackson is a favorite of Bengals owner Mike Brown and it would not be surprising to see them make this transition in 2019.

Before Cincinnati fired DC Teryl Austin, La Canfora reports that some within the Bengals’ organization believed Austin was being groomed to take over. However, with the defense at a historically bad level, Lewis made the decision to move on from Austin and bring back Jackson.

Another candidate who could get some consideration from the Bengals, according to La Canfora, is Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, who previously played running back for Cincinnati.

Jackson, 53, began his NFL coaching career back in 2001 as the Redskins RBs coach. He worked for the Bengals, Falcons and Ravens before he was hired by the Raiders as their offensive coordinator in 2010.

Jackson was later promoted to head coach but lasted one season at the helm. After four years with the Bengals, Jackson was hired as the Browns head coach in 2016 but lasted just over three years in Cleveland.

The Bengals hired Jackson as a special assistant to HC Marvin Lewis.

During his time as the Browns’ head coach, Jackson led them to a record of 3-36-1 (8.8 percent) and no playoff appearances.