After a long tenure dating back to 2003, Marvin Lewis will not return as the head coach of the Bengals according to a report from Tom Peilissero. [Multiple outlets have now confirmed the news.]
Pelissero shares, via tweet below, that Lewis has informed his staff.
Lewis has been the face of the Bengals franchise for well over a decade now, and during that time he holds a record of 131-121, including what always seems to get brought up when talking about his time in Cinci - his winless record in post season play.
In his seven trips to the postseason, Lewis has never won a playoff game, despite finishing first the AFC North four of those times (2005, 2009, 2013, and 2015). The franchise hasn't finished above .500 since a 12-4 season and first round playoff exit in 2015, and while the front office signed him to a 2-year contract extension back in January - the second year being a team option - they ultimately felt it was the right time to time to move on.
Lewis has carried himself with an endearing personality that will leave many in Cincinnati with fond memories, and is his tenure with one franchise, especially as a first-time head coach, is almost unheard of.
With a coaching career that began in 1981, Lewis coached at Idaho State, Long Beach State, New Mexico and Pittsburgh before breaking into the league with the Steelers in 1990 coaching the linebackers. In 1996 he became the defensive coordinator for the Ravens, where he stayed until 2001. In 2002 he became the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Redskins before landing the Bengals job heading into the 2003 season.
He's worked under some of the best in the game, including Bill Cowher, Brian Billick and Steve Spurrier, and has had an impressive number of assistants under him go on to land NFL head coaching jobs including Leslie Frazier, Hue Jackson, Jay Gruden, Mike Zimmer, and Vance Joseph.
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