Key Takeaways: Bengals Introduce New Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher

The 37-year-old was introduced on Thursday morning.

Author:
James Rapien
Publish date:
Jan 25, 2024 5:11 PM EST

In this story:

CINCINNATI — New Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher was officially introduced on Thursday morning. He spoke for roughly 19 minutes with head coach Zac Taylor sitting to his right.

The organization is hopeful that the Taylor-Pitcher combo can help take the Bengals offense to new heights.

Here are our top takeaways from his introductory press conference:

Leader in the Clubhouse

Bengals new Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher (right) joins Head Coach Zac Taylor for a press conference at Paycor Stadium on Thursday January 24, 2024. — © Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

There were plenty of teams interested in Pitcher.

The Saints interviewed him multiple times and appeared ready to make him an offer. He met virtually with the Patriots and the Raiders were hoping to have an in-person interview with him in Las Vegas.

Are we sure he would've came back to Cincinnati without a deal?

That doesn't include teams like the Buccaneers or Brian Callahan's Titans. Pitcher was going to become an offensive coordinator this offseason. The Bengals made sure it was here.

Pitcher could've joined the Patriots or Raiders in hopes of resurrecting storied franchises that will likely address their quarterback situations this offseason.

"That challenge can be appealing as a competitor, but you gotta be careful. That's a double edged sword," Pitcher said. "There's all sorts of pitfalls that come with that. Not that I wouldn't have been willing to take those on and attack something like that with everything I had, but as you sit back and do the cost benefit analysis of all these potential options, I'll just keep coming back to it. The leader in the clubhouse was right here. Just really thankful that it worked out this way."

That last line speaks volumes. Pitcher never wanted to leave. And yet, if Callahan hadn't gotten the offer from Tennessee on Monday, there's a could chance Pitcher would've been hired elsewhere.

Timing is Everything

Callahan accepted the Titans head coaching job on Monday night. That gave the Bengals time to pivot, interview any outside candidates and zero in on Pitcher before he agreed to a deal with another team.

"I appreciate the Titans for their timeliness," Taylor said. "That made things ideal for us because there were timeline issues and it worked out the way it needed to work out, thankfully and so we don't have to think beyond that. But that's the truth of the matter."

Bottom line: Taylor wanted to promote Pitcher if Callahan left, but there was a very real scenario where Pitcher would've become an offensive coordinator elsewhere if Callahan didn't get the Titans job early in the week.

Tied at the Hip

Dan Pitcher, Joe Burrow — USA Today Images

Joe Burrow praised Pitcher in a statement that the Bengals included with their press release when they officially announced the news.

The Bengals wouldn't have made this move if Burrow didn't sign off. Much like Taylor, the star quarterback was hellbent on keeping Pitcher in town.

The two have grown together. Pitcher was promoted to quarterbacks coach just a few months before the Bengals took Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

"We’ve been tied at the hip from the moment he came into this building. I was hired into that role two months before that. I couldn’t have asked for a more ideal situation, and I love the fact I get to keep working with him," Pitcher said. "Not only is he an elite player, but I've gotten to know him so well as a person. He's a special person. He's different. They don't make many like him, and to get to continue working with him day in and day out, knowing that we have a guy that can win us a World Championship it's hard to put a price in that."

Top Candidate

Bengals new Offensive Coordinator Dan Pitcher joins Head Coach Zac Taylor for a press conference at Paycor Stadium on Thursday January 24, 2024. — © Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Some are probably wondering why the Bengals didn't try to make a run at Bills interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Others may think Cincinnati should've tried to hire Eric Bieniemy, Josh McDaniels or another more experienced candidate.

The decision to hire Pitcher wasn't because the Bengals were "being cheap." It wasn't "business as usual" for Mike Brown's staff. Taylor didn't promote Pitcher so he could continue to call plays.

Pitcher was one of the top offensive coordinator candidates on the market. He had options and would've ended up elsewhere if they didn't promote him. No one knows him better than the Bengals.

There was a reason they wanted to keep him: They think he's a great coach and a big part of their offensive staff.

It's no different than the team re-signing or extending one of their top players in free agency.

Like the rest of the NFL, the Bengals know how talented Pitcher is and they made sure they got a deal done before someone else hired him.

The Bengals lost Callahan and replaced him with one of the top offensive coordinator options available—and that guy just happened to be in their building.

"Dan's role has really evolved," Taylor said. "He's been the quarterback coach, but that role has really evolved and given him more. He's been a bigger voice as the years have gone by, and so it was natural progression to make him the coordinator once Brian left. I know that our staff feels the same way."

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