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The Bengals’ quest for a defensive coordinator continues to come up snake eyes.
The latest rejection comes in the form of Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who declined to interview with the Bengals, according to Mike Garafolo.
The #Bengals wanted to interview Ohio State defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for their vacant DC job, sources tell @RapSheet. However, I’m told he’s not going to renege on his commitment to OSU after taking the job last month. So Cincy’s search continues.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 15, 2019
Hafley has experience in both the college and NFL ranks. He was most recently the secondary coach for the 49ers from 2016-18. He held that same position with the Browns from 2014-15 after holding it with the Buccaneers in 2013.
However, Hafley has never been a coordinator at either level, so he wouldn’t have been the strongest candidate for an NFL coordinator job.
Still, it’s another bad look for the Bengals that they continue to be rejected by potential candidates, no matter how qualified they may or may not be.
Another issue here is the Bengals seemingly not wanting to hire Rams secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant, someone who interviewed for the gig and appears open to it. The fact that Cincinnati continues to look under every rock for anyone else would suggest Zac Taylor doesn’t have a high level of confidence in his former co-worker in Los Angeles.
Alas, the search rolls on.