Zac Taylor on pressure to get Bengals back to the playoffs: “It’s exciting to me

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks with media during the 2026 NFL Draft, Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If you’re worried about Zac Taylor feeling pressure to get the Cincinnati Bengals back to the playoffs this season, he does.

In fact, he’s been feeling pressure ever since the Bengals played in Super Bowl LVI.

"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." Zac Taylor on the pressure to get the Bengals back to the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ob0NS7d0Xo

— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) July 27, 2026

The fact that he says it’s exciting with the pressure he’s feeling is good to hear. But now is the time to deliver.

Again, training camp hasn’t even officially started. The Bengals also haven’t played a regular season or preseason game. Talk is still cheap. The anticipation is palpable, and that’s good.

Now, though, it’s a matter of whether this team can deliver on what’s been a really promising offseason.

“It does piss you off to an extent that thats what we did and thats how people should see us until we prove them otherwise.” Zac Taylor on Bengals 6-11 season in 2025 coming into this season pic.twitter.com/Nnz1MOQZs4

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) July 27, 2026

You like hearing Taylor say this. That tells me they have a chip on their shoulder and are ready to be contenders again and do what it takes to get there.

Al Golden says Zac Taylor challenged his coaches to make sure they’re using the great talent on the roster “accordingly” throughout the season starting in camp. pic.twitter.com/NHLsWwNfxJ

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) July 27, 2026

This is really encouraging. This may be a change in leadership, with Taylor holding his coaches more accountable, which may reflect Taylor feeling pressure and realizing this is his last chance to get the Bengals back into the playoffs.

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