The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t need to search far and wide to find their next offensive coordinator. The franchise simply promoted quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher.
Pitcher was formally handed the job Thursday, one day after Brian Callahan left to take the head coaching gig with the Tennessee Titans.
The 37-year-old Pitcher just finished his eighth season on Cincy’s coaching staff. He spent the past four seasons as Joe Burrow’s position coach after previously serving as assistant QBs coach (2019) and offensive assistant (2016-18).
This is the ideal scenario. I’ve had the luxury of growing up here,” Pitcher said.
“This is where I learned how to be a coach and doing it under some really good people. It’s not often you get the chance to take all those steps in your career in one place.
When word broke about the Titans’ plan to make Callahan their next head coach, Pitcher was at the top of their list of potential replacements.
The 37-year-old has been Joe Burrow’s quarterbacks coach since the Bengals took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Pitcher is one of the hottest names in the offensive coordinator market and like Callahan, seemed destined for a promotion this offseason.
Pitcher was close to taking the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator job last season. Instead, he returned to Cincinnati. Now he has a chance to stick with Burrow, Taylor and help guide this offense into a new chapter.
It isn’t a done deal. No decisions have been made. Multiple teams are still interested in Pitcher, including the Patriots, Raiders and Saints.
