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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
Zac Taylor’s New Mindset Could Define the Bengals’ 2026 Season
It was Mock Turtle Soup Day at Paycor Stadium, an event held just before training camp begins when Cincinnati Bengals decision-makers speak with the media. Duke Tobin, Zac Taylor, Dan Pitcher, Al Golden and others spoke. Owner Mike Brown did not speak with reporters as he continues to struggle with hearing issues at age 90, as reported by Paul Dehner Jr.
Note: Mike Brown will be in attendance and is expected to still present the Paul Brown Award to a local high school coach, but won’t be doing the media junket this year. The club says they are still evaluating the restructure of thier front office availability cadence and this…
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) July 27, 2026 Tobin was asked about contracts and declined to comment on anything specific, saying he expects all extension-eligible players to practice Wednesday. Golden continued to set a high bar for his maligned linebackers.
However, Taylor said something that really stuck out to me about pressure: In the year after the Super Bowl, he felt pressure to get back, but now, it is more excitement.
"I felt the pressure after the Super Bowl to get back to the Super Bowl. I don't feel it as pressure, it's exciting to me. You want to feel something, and, in this profession, you feel something," Taylor said.
This is likely a welcome sentiment from Taylor, as he has not turned this big, expensive offseason into some sort of overwhelming pressure that he will carry with him week by week. The offensive-minded coach is more likely to view this 2026 roster as an opportunity to enjoy coaching football and deploy players such as Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on offense while watching Dexter Lawrence, Bryan Cook, DJ Turner and others take care of business on the other side of the ball.
These players possess the leadership that Taylor also discussed during his media availability Monday afternoon. He mentioned players such as Jonathan Allen and Kyle Dugger, who have been more unheralded free-agent additions.
So many young coaches have admitted to the immense pressure and overpreparation they dealt with in their first Super Bowl experience. Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay notably said he was outcoached in his first Super Bowl appearance, a 13-3 loss to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. That negative experience made McVay more prepared in 2021, leading to a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, Taylor finds himself in a similar situation.
Granted, Taylor’s Super Bowl loss was more about the ball rolling the Rams’ way than about him being blatantly outcoached. He was dealing with a less-than-impressive offensive line that had to combat both Aaron Donald and Von Miller.
He has a different team. He is more prepared and, at least from the outside, has a positive mental outlook on this season. If he can rely on this mindset during the low points of the season, it will set a great example for his coaching staff and players on how to manage the ups and downs of a crucial year.
TradingSuper BowlTaylorJoe BurrowMock Turtle Soup DayPaycor StadiumCincinnati BengalsOwner Mike BrownPaul Dehner JrNoteMike BrownPaul Brown Award
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