Just over 365 days ago, the Cincinnati Bengals finally hired a defensive coordinator, but the coaching staff was far from finalized. The great purge of Marvin Lewis’ final conglomerate of assistants saw 17 new faces join Zac Taylor’s first coaching staff in 2019. The addition of three new positions on the staff itself increased the overall turnover from the year prior, but even without them, it was a transition not seen in Cincinnati in nearly 20 years.

This year... not so much. But for good reason.

The Bengals finalized their coaching staff earlier this month; officially hiring four new coaches and promoting one (or two, technically) of their own. With the scouting combine now beginning, it feels like a good time to officially acquaint ourselves with everyone joining the staff, since they were all still getting to know each other this time last year.

The Newcomers

Al Golden, linebackers coach

Replacing: Tem Lukabu

After only one season on the job, Lukabu took a great opportunity to become Boston College’s new defensive coordinator. Golden now becomes the Bengals’ third linebackers coach in the last three years. He spent the last two years coaching linebackers for the Detroit Lions. Before that, he was their tight ends coach for two years. This is his fifth season coaching in the NFL, though he has 10 years of head coaching experience at the collegiate level.

Steve Jackson, cornerbacks coach

Replacing: Daronte Jones

Only Jim Turner and Mark Duffner bring more NFL coaching experience than Jackson has. A former defensive back himself, Jackson’s spent the better part of the last 16 years coaching safeties for the Washington Redskins, Tennessee Titans, and most recently the New York Jets. Jackson will now make the slight transition to coaching cornerbacks for the first time in his extensive football life.

Troy Walters, assistant wide receivers coach

Replacing: no one

The hiring of Walters ensures that the number of coaches on staff stays at 24, but the assistant wide receivers coaching position is brand new and essentially replaced the assistant quarterbacks gig that Dan Pitcher had last year. This is Walters’ first coaching job, as he recently wrapped up an eight-year playing career at wide receiver.

Colt Anderson, assistant special teams coach

Replacing: Brayden Coombs

As Coombs left to run his own special teams unit in Detroit, Anderson becomes Darrin Simmons’ new assistant in running special teams, and his role may be slightly bigger now that Simmons also has the assistant head coach title as well. Like Walters, Anderson is a first-time coach and recently retired from an eight-year career himself.

The Promoted

Darrin Simmons, assistant head coach

Replacing: no one

Paul Alexander was the assistant for the Bengals that earned the title of “assistant head coach”, and Simmons has more than earned it. Entering year 18 coaching in Cincinnati, Simmons will continue running special teams, but now has a fancy new title to add to his resume.

Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach

Replacing: Alex Van Pelt

Van Pelt’s departure left arguably the biggest hole for Taylor to fill, but he knew immediately who he wanted to replace him with. Pitcher was anointed as Van Pelt’s heir this time last year in case Van Pelt got an opportunity elsewhere. That became a reality when the Cleveland Browns hired him as their new offensive coordinator, and Pitcher will take over the all-important role of being Joe Burrow’s new quarterbacks coach. Pitcher was previously the assistant quarterbacks coach and Taylor’s head of game management, a role he will continue to serve.

The Full Staff

Head Coach

• Zac Taylor, head coach

Coordinators

• Lou Anarumo, defensive coordinator
• Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator
• Darrin Simmons, special teams coordinator & assistant head coach

Assistants

• Colt Anderson, assistant special teams coach
• Bob Bicknell, wide receivers coach
• James Casey, tight ends coach
• Gerald Chatman, defensive assistant
• Mark Duffner, senior defensive assistant
• Nick Eason, defensive line coach
• Al Golden, linebackers coach
• Steve Jackson, cornerbacks coach
• Jordan Kovacs, defensive quality control
• Brad Kragthorpe, offensive assistant
• Robert Livingston, safeties coach
• Ben Martin, assistant offensive line coach
• Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach
• Jemal Singleton, running backs coach
• Jim Turner, offensive line coach
• Troy Walters, assistant wide receivers coach

Strength and Conditioning

• Joey Boese, strength and conditioning coach
• Todd Hunt, assistant strength and conditioning coach
• Garrett Swanson, assistant strength and conditioning coach

Football Operations

• Doug Rosfeld, director of coaching operations