Bengals Sign Coach Marvin Lewis To Extension Through 2019; Stephen A. Smith Slams Decision

The Cincinnati Bengals revealed Tuesday that they have signed head coach Marvin Lewis to a two-year contract extension through the 2019 season.

Marvin Lewis Extension news

The Bengals finished 7-9 and third in the AFC North this season, 59-year-old Lewis’ 15th at the helm. Cincinnati has missed the playoffs for the second straight year, after having reached the postseason the previous five years.

The move may come as a surprise to many, since ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Dec. 17 that Lewis was “planning to leave the Bengals after this season to pursue opportunities elsewhere.”

Lewis’s defense allowed a 16th-ranked 21.8 points per game.

The Bengals made some major coaching changes early this season: offensive coordinator Ken Zampese was fired and replaced by Bill Lazor two weeks into the campaign.

Cincinnati also ranked dead last in total offense (280.5 yards per game) with bottom-six marks in both rushing and passing.

Clearly, the Bengals have a lot of work to do in order to become serious contenders in 2018.

“My job is to win a world championship,” Lewis said Tuesday. “We have a talented roster full of veteran leaders and emerging young stars and I am committed to making the necessary improvements to put this team in the best position to win.”

One person who condemned the Bengals’ decision to extend Lewis was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. The outspoken pundit said loudly and clearly on “First Take” on Tuesday morning that the head coach should have been fired a long time ago.

“He should be gone,” said Smith. “And it’s a damn shame that he’s not.”

Smith also compared Lewis to other NFL head coaches and said the Bengals don’t care about their fans. Watch Smith sound off on Lewis here:

And another Smith diatribe against the Bengals:

Lewis has formerly served as linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for several college teams including Pittsburgh and Idaho State. He was also defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins.