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Cleveland Browns to interview Bengals OC Hue Jackson and DC Paul Guenther to fill head coaching vacancy

It's possible the Cincinnati Bengals could lose both their offensive and defensive coordinators after this season.

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

With how well the Bengals are doing this season, it should come as no surprise that both the team's offensive coordinator, Hue Jackson and defensive coordinator, Paul Guenther, are among the assistant coaches getting interviews for a head coaching job in the NFL next season.

The Bengals' offense finished the season ranked 7th in points per game and 15th in yards per game. Those rankings were even better when Andy Dalton was in the lineup. The defense finished the season ranked 2nd in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed. The defense held the number one spot in points allowed for most of the season before losing the top spot to the Seahawks in Week 17 after the Bengals limited the Ravens to 16 points, while the Seahawks held the Cardinals to 6.

Now, with coaching vacancies looking to be filled by many NFL teams, the men responsible for the Bengals' offense and defense are getting considered for those roles.

The 49ers, Dolphins and Browns have all requested to interview Hue Jackson while Guenther is apparently set to interview with the Browns next week, too, according to Jason LaCanfora. Neither can interview with any teams prior to Saturday's Wild Card game between the Bengals and Steelers.

The Bengals lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators in 2013 when offensive coordinator Jay Gruden left the team to become the head coach of the Washington Redskins and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer took a job as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. In each of their second seasons, Gruden and Zimmer have led their teams to division titles and home playoff games in Wild Card weekend.

Marvin Lewis is building quite a coaching tree and the Gruden and Zimmer's success is a good sign as to how Jackson and Guenther may do if given the opportunity to take on a head coaching role next season.