One year after losing both of their primary coordinators, it's now looking like the Bengals will keep most, if not their entire coaching staff together heading into the NFL offseason.
After Jay Gruden left to become the head coach in Washington last year, Hue Jackson stepped in and did a solid job with what he had this season. That was enough to earn him an interview with the Buffalo Bills, who just hired Rex Ryan to be their next head coach. To this point, they've been the only team to show legitimate interest in Jackson.
With the Oakland Raiders set to hire Jack Del Rio, that leaves the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons as the only teams without head coaches. The Bears really like John Fox, while the 49ers could be on the verge of hiring Adam Gase.
The Falcons appear to have their sights set on Dan Quinn, and Denver has been linked to Teryl Austin, Rick Dennison, Adam Gase, Gary Kubiak and Dan Quinn, but not Hue.
Unless something comes out of left field, it looks likely the Bengals will be able to hold on to both of their coordinators heading into the 2015 season. The Bengals will be very fortunate if they get Jackson back, as they may have went to an unproven James Urban to be their next OC had Hue left. If how well Paul Guenther did as a first-time coordinator did this year is any indicator, staying in house is not always the best method, at least for immediate success.
This team needs that, as their window to contend for a title is closing.