Marvin Lewis, who changed the culture of the franchise while winning four AFC North titles with two different quarterbacks during 16 seasons as Bengals head coach, announced the end of his term in a Monday morning news conference at Paul Brown Stadium.
Hours after finishing the 6-10 season in a 16-13 loss to Pittsburgh just miles from where Lewis grew up in McDonald, Pa., he and the Bengals opted to go their separate ways, according to the team's news release, and that put the club in a coaching search for the first time since Jan. 12, 2003.
The hunt for the Bengals' 10th head coach, which is already underway, is expected to be widespread in both the college and pro ranks.
The Bengals raised eyebrows when they hired Lewis, the hottest assistant in the game, back in 2003. In turning to their first head coach who either didn't play for Bengals founder Paul Brown or wasn't hired by him, Bengals president Mike Brown sent a clear message it was no longer business as usual.
Lewis, a former Pittsburgh and Baltimore assistant from the old AFC Central, was just three seasons removed from coordinating the Ravens' record-setting defense that won the Super Bowl. He immediately brought the Bengals into the 21st century with highly structured strength, conditioning and nutrition programs, as well as an intense practice style in an effort to get back to contending in the notoriously rough-and-tumble AFC North that had morphed from the equally rambunctious AFC Central.
Lewis wasted no time leading the Bengals to the NFL's biggest turnaround with an 8-8 record and was runner-up to Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in 2003 coach of the year voting.
"When he took over we were pretty much the laughingstock of the league," recalled former linebacker Brian Simmons on Monday. "He came in right away and brought a level of competence and confidence. He brought professionalism. That's how he left his mark. He changed the conversation from never winning to making it to five straight playoffs. All things come to an end. Even though it didn't end the way everyone wanted, that doesn't take away all the good that somebody accomplished in a place and he definitely left his mark there."
Lewis finished with a 131-122-3 record for 256 regular-season games, tied with his good friend John Fox for the most games by a head coach that started his career in the 21st century. Although excoriated for his 0-7 post-season record, Lewis led the Bengals to seven playoff berths in his first 13 seasons after the franchise went to a total of seven in the 34 years before he arrived.
During his run that became the longest coaching tenure of any African-American in any pro sport, Lewis' work with youth and education in Greater Cincinnati and reached legendary status with the Marvin Lewis Community Fund that has raised about $15 million for college scholarships, needy school districts and disadvantaged families. His annual celebrity golf classic became a Cincinnati spring staple.
A look back at the coaching career of Marvin Lewis with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis talks to members of the media about his first year as head coach, during a news conference at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Monday, Dec. 29, 2003. (AP Photo/Tom Uhlman)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, left, directs his players alongside running back Joe Mixon, right, during NFL football practice, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis stands next to a rendering of the new field markings during an unveiling of the team's new uniforms before a large crowd of fans, Thursday, April 22, 2004, in Cincinnati. The markings will be on the new FieldTurf playing surface which is in the process of being installed. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, left, speaks at a news conference where he introduced Mike Zimmer, right, as the new defensive coordinator for the Bengals, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, in Cincinnati. Zimmer had been defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis walks off Heinz Field after leading his team to a 28-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL football action Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, in Pittsburgh.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cinncinati Bengals' Carl Powell (72) douses coach Marvin Lewis following a 38-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in NFL action Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis works the sidelines in the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis during practice at training camp, Tuesday, July 29, 2008, in Georgetown, Ky. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis talks with reporters, Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in Georgetown, Kentucky. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis breaks into a smile after the Bengals scored against the Houston Texans in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
North squad coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals, watches in the first half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis look dover his shoulder during the second half of a NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis holds up a jersey with first round pick A.J. Green at an introductory press conference in April.
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis sends defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) back onto the field in the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis gestures to his defense during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005, in Baltimore. The Bengals won 21-9. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, left, makes a point with an official Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003, against the Kansas City Chiefs in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, right, hugs receiver Chad Johnson after Johnson scored on a 68-yard reception against the Indianapolis Colts in the first half, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2005, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis congratulates tackle Willie Anderson (71) as he leaves the field, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, against the Houston Texans in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, right, talks to his players on the bench during the Bengals' game against the Cleveland Browns in 2004. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis looks up at the scoreboard during their game against the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Mass., Sunday afternoon Dec. 12, 2004. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis in action against the San Diego Chargers in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis throws a ball before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis signs autographs after practice at training camp, Tuesday, July 29, 2008, in Georgetown, Ky. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis throws out the challenge flag during the second quarter of their football game with the Denver Broncos in Denver on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, right, hugs a mourner before a memorial service for the late Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry in Westwego, La., on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. Henry, who grew up in nearby Belle Chasse, died Thursday, Dec. 17, after falling out of the back of a pickup truck driven by his fiancee, Loleini Tonga. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis runs onto the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis looks down at his notes during the second half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Md., Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis and staff instruct their team during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis speaks on the NFL Network set after the North team practice for the 2011 Under Armour Senior Bowl at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama on January 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Alix Drawec)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis speaks to the media after an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The Bengals won 31-7. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, left, responds to a question as first-round NFL football draft pick Dre Kirkpatrick listens during a news conference, Friday, April 27, 2012, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis speaks on stage during an NFL Fan Rally at the NFL House in Victoria House, in London, Saturday Oct. 29, 2016. The Washington Redskins faced the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley Stadium in London. (AP Photo/Tim Ireland)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, right, speaks alongside first round draft pick William Jackson III during a news conference at Paul Brown Stadium, Friday, April 29, 2016, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis watches his players warm up before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Cleveland. Cincinnati won 30-0. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Cincinnati Bengals NFL second round draft pick Andy Dalton, left, a quarterback from TCU, sits with head coach Marvin Lewis, right, during a news conference, Saturday, April 30, 2011, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis celebrates a field goal against the Cleveland Browns in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Posing for a photo during Cincinnati Bengals practice at an NFL football mandatory minicamp are, left to right, Bengals president Mike Brown, Reese Kasich, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, quarterback Andy Dalton, and head coach Marvin Lewis, Wednesday, June 11, 2014, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid, left, and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis meet before an NFL football game, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis runs onto the field for an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, left, and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, right, meet on the field during practice before an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis watches the action during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, in Cleveland. The Bengals won 23-10. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and his son, Marshall Manning, greet Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis prior to an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, middle, stands alongside offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, left, during organized team activities at the team's NFL football training facility, Tuesday, June 2, 2015, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis works the sidelines in the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis stands in a tunnel before the team's introduction before a preseason NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) shakes hands with coach Marvin Lewis before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis watches his players during NFL football training camp, Saturday, July 29, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Lewis' best season was 2015 when the Bengals became the first AFC North team to start 8-0 on the way to a 12-4 record that matched the marks of the 1981 and 1988 Super Bowl teams.
But quarterback Andy Dalton broke his throwing thumb in a Dec. 13 game against Pittsburgh and when backup AJ McCarron's 16-point fourth quarter in the Wild Card rematch a month later put the Bengals 1:50 away from a play-off win, a fumble and two personal foul calls turned it into a loss.
Lewis certainly didn't have a lot of luck riding with him in those two post-season games against the Steelers. He didn't have Dalton for that one and ten years to the day in his first play-off appearance after winning the 2005 AFC North title, quarterback Carson Palmer tore his ACL on the game's second snap.
It's been tough sledding since that '15 Wild Card loss. They've gone 19-28-1. His best player, A.J. Green, has missed 14 games since that night he caught the go-ahead TD. In the last two seasons, Lewis has fired a coordinator once the season got going twice, Ken Zampese on offense in 2017 and Teryl Austin on defense in 2018.
Despite the 7-9 season of 2017, Mike Brown showed his faith in Lewis last offseason when he extended his deal. They doled a lot of money to veteran coaches in an effort to re-build the offense and replace defensive coordinator Paul Guenther with Austin, fresh from four years as the Lions DC, when Guenther went to Oakland.
But the players' inability to grasp Austin's changes blew up the defense and the offense was torpedoed by a stunning series of injuries to key players as well as mysterious lapses of inconsistency. With the overhaul yielding another losing season, both sides apparently felt it was time to move on.
