Bengals’ connections with Redskins run from players to coaches in NFL and college ranks

The connections between the Bengals and Redskins run deep, in fact, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen the Bengals have more connections, especially coaching connections, with another NFL team. Not only is Redskins head coach Jay Gruden the Bengals’ former offensive coordinator, but just about every coach on both teams has at least one coach on the opposite team who he has worked with. Additionally, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther were coaches on the Redskins at some point in time. Let’s take a dive into the plentiful connections at the NFL level, college level, and locally for both of these teams before their Week 8 matchup in London.

NFL connections:

• Redskins defensive backs coach Perry Fewell and DL Cullen Jenkins worked with Bengals CB Chykie Brown for the New York Giants in 2014. Fewell served as the defensive coordinator.
• Redskins defensive quality control coach Chad Grimm and CB Greg Toler worked with Bengals LB Karlos Dansby for the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.
• Redskins wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard (2011) and DE Chris Baker (2010) worked with Bengals LB Karlos Dansby on the Miami Dolphins.
• Redskins S Donte Whitner Sr. played with Bengals LB Karlos Dansby for the Cleveland Browns from 2014-15.
• Redskins LB Mason Foster played with Bengals DE Michael Johnson for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014.
• Redskins tight ends coach Wes Phillips worked with Bengals CB Adam Jones on the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.
• Redskins CB Josh Norman played with Bengals WR Brandon LaFell on the Carolina Panthers from 2012-13.
• Redskins special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica (2007-08) worked with Bengals K Mike Nugent on the New York Jets.
• Redskins CB Greg Toler worked with Bengals K Mike Nugent for the Arizona Cardinals in 2009.
• Redskins head strength and conditioning coach Mike Clark worked with Bengals G Eric Winston on the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012. Clark served as the strength and conditioning coach.

Notable College Connections:

• Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry (1991) and assistant special teams coach Bradford Banta (1990-91) worked with Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese for USC. Barry was a linebacker, Banta was a tight end and long snapper while Zampese served as a graduate assistant.
• Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay played with Bengals assistant special teams/defensive quality control coach Brayden Coombs at Miami University from 2005-07.
• Redskins defensive backs Coach Perry Fewell worked with Bengals offensive quality control/offensive line coach Robert Couch for Vanderbilt in 1995. Fewell served in the same position while Couch played on the offensive line.
• Redskins T Morgan Moses worked with Bengals quarterbacks Coach Bill Lazor for Virginia from 2010-12. Lazor served as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
• Redskins running backs Coach Randy Jordan coached Bengals RB Giovani Bernard at North Carolina in 2012.
• Redskins QB Colt McCoy played with Bengals CB Chykie Brown for Texas from 2007-09.
• Redskins G Shawn Lauvao (2009) and WR Rashad Ross (2011) played with Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict for Arizona State.
• Redskins LB Will Compton (2009-12), C/G Spencer Long (2009-12) and TE Niles Paul (2009-10) played with Bengals HB Rex Burkhead for Nebraska.
• Redskins LB Terence Garvin played with Bengals DE Will Clarke for West Virginia from 2009-12.
• Redskins QB Kirk Cousins played with Bengals CB Darqueze Dennard for Michigan State from 2010-11.
• Redskins CB Quinton Dunbar (2011-14), S Josh Evans (2011-12), RB Matt Jones (2012-14) and TE Jordan Reed (2011-12) played with Bengals QB Jeff Driskel for Florida.
• Redskins S Josh Evans and TE Jordan Reed played with Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap for Florida in 2009.
• Redskins LB Houston Bates played with Bengals S Clayton Fejedelem for Illinois in 2013.
• Redskins LB Trent Murphy played with Bengals HB Ryan Hewitt for Stanford from 2010-13.
• Redskins G Arie Kouandjio played with Bengals CB Dre Kirkpatrick for Alabama from 2010-11.
• Redskins DE Ricky Jean Francois played with Bengals WR Brandon LaFell for LSU from 2006-08.
• Redskins assistant special teams coach Bradford Banta worked with Bengals CB Chris Lewis-Harris at Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2007.
• Redskins G Arie Kouandjio played with Bengals QB AJ McCarron for Alabama from 2010-13.
• Redskins S Donte Whitner Sr. played with Bengals K Mike Nugent for Ohio State from 2003-04.
• Redskins running backs coach Randy Jordan (2011) and S Deshazor Everett (2011-14) worked with Bengals OT Cedric Ogbuehi for Texas A&M.
• Redskins S/LB Su’a Cravens played with Bengals CB Josh Shaw for USC from 2013-14.
• Redskins DE Ricky Jean Francois played with Bengals OT Andrew Whitworth for LSU in 2005.
• Redskins CB Bashaud Breeland played with Bengals DT DeShawn Williams for Clemson from 2011-13.
• Redskins assistant defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant played with Bengals G Kevin Zeitler for Wisconsin in 2008.

Coaching connections:

• Redskins head coach Jay Gruden was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator from 2011-13.
• Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for the Redskins in 2002.
• Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther was an assistant coach for the Redskins from 2002-03.
• Defensive Line Coach Jacob Burney was on the Redskins’ staff from 2010-14.
• Linebackers Coach Jim Haslett was the defensive coordinator for the Redskins from 2010-14.
• Quarterbacks Coach Bill Lazor was on the Redskins’ staff from 2004-07.
• Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Chip Morton was the head strength and conditioning coach for the Redskins in 2002.
• Redskins quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh worked with Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis for the Baltimore Ravens from 1999-01. Cavanaugh served as the offensive coordinator while Lewis served as the defensive coordinator.
• Redskins head coach Jay Gruden, offensive coordinator Sean McVay, wide receivers Coach Ike Hilliard, special projects/assistant special teams coach Bret Munsey and assistant strength and conditioning coach Chad Englehart worked with Bengals linebackers Coach Jim Haslett for the Florida Tuskers of the UFL in 2009. Gruden served as the offensive coordinator, McVay served as the tight ends Coach, Hilliard served as a volunteer coach, Munsey served as the Director of Player Personnel, Englehart served as the head strength and conditioning coach while Haslett served as the head coach.
• Redskins running backs coach Randy Jordan worked with Bengals linebackers Coach Jim Haslett for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1993. Jordan was a running back while Haslett served as an assistant coach.
• Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan worked with Bengals offensive coordinator Ken Zampese for the Green Bay Packers in 1999. McCloughan served as a scout while Zampese served as an offensive assistant.

Ohio area connections:

• Redskins head coach Jay Gruden is from Tiffin, Ohio.
• Redskins quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh is from Youngstown, Ohio.
• Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay went to University of Miami.
• Redskins assistant offensive line coach Kevin Carberry attended University of Ohio.
• Redskins WR Pierre Garçon attended Mount Union.
• Redskins LB Steven Daniels (Reserved/Injured) is from Cincinnati (St. Xavier High School).
• Redskins S Donte Whitner played at Ohio State University.
• Redskins S David Bruton Jr. is from Miamisburg, Ohio (Miamisburg High School).

Washington area connections:

• Bengals secondary coach Robert Livingston attended William & Mary.
• Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban attended Washington & Lee.
• Bengals HB Cedric Peerman (Reserve/Injured) is from Gladys, Virginia, and played at the University of Virginia.
• Bengals C Russell Bodine is from Scottsville, Virginia.