The Bengals re-signed coach Marvin Lewis to a two-year deal, leaving many in the football world perplexed. While Lewis has led the Bengals to the playoffs five times, including five consecutive appearances from 2011-2015, he has never gotten the Bengals past the Wild Card round. There were also multiple reports indicating that Lewis was looking forward to doing something else in 2018. 
On Friday, owner Mike Brown sat down with Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer to discuss what went into the team’s decision to re-sign Lewis. Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
On whether he thought the team’s relationship with Lewis was over in light of the aforementioned reports:
‘I chose not to make a decision on what we were going to do going forward until all the evidence had been submitted. And that meant playing through the full season and not making a call prematurely. I would say that while we had serious reverses and they were unsettling, to put it mildly, we bounced back at the end of the year. We beat two teams that were in playoff runs. We beat them in games that were important for them where they gave their best shot and I was impressed how we rebounded. That played into what was in my mind when I had to make a final call.”
On the impact of the team’s season-ending wins over the Lions and Ravens:
“Yes. We had a very unusual season. Obviously, we were off offensively. We lost a handful of games that were games we could’ve, should’ve won. They were very close. They were one-play games. And if we had managed to win our share of those, we would’ve been out of that middle group of teams. In my mind, there’s a middle group that runs from say 6-10 to 9-7. That’s over a dozen teams. With all of them, they have a fan base that is dissatisfied. Ours is no exception. And yet they are all close to having been in the next level. And I think that that’s where we were. We had a disappointing season because we didn’t win our share of those close games that we could’ve, should’ve won. I think it goes beyond that, though. I think we tailed off in some areas that brought us down. I think those issues are correctable. I don’t think we’re far off. I think we can make the changes that we need to make and quickly rebound to the level where we were a couple years ago.”
On why he ultimately stuck with Lewis:
“I think he knows our situation well. He brings continuity. I don’t think he lost the football team. I think that was evidenced by the last couple games. The players like Marvin. They support him. I think that’s a good thing. The area where we have some making up to do is with our public. They are unsettled because they wanted to see more. And then it didn’t come through for them in the fashion they had expected or hoped; they began to make commentary and some of that was well, it’s Marvin, some of that was well, it’s Mike, some of that was whatever it was. I have to look beyond that. I have to just do what I think puts our team in the best position to win. Even if it is a short-term issue with our fans. I will tell you that it’s all going to play out on the field here. And if we win, it will be great. If we don’t, you’ll be right back here asking why.”
“…I think he can manage. I think he has managed it in the past and I think we’ve been very close. We haven’t quite gotten where we needed to get. He knows that. I know that. I do think, repeating again, that our best chance to get there is with him having another run at it. He brings a lot to the table. You can always say the next one will be better, an improvement, but you’re talking about the unknown essentially. We do know Marvin. We know him with his strengths, we know him with his weaknesses. And we all have a few of those. He has his. I think they’re enough to get us there. And I decided to give him the opportunity.”
Doesn’t matter what the owner says or how bad the team is. In 100 years Marvin Lewis will still be coaching the Bengals
same old Marvin, same old Mike. Same old Bengals. Let’s get rid of quality players like Whit and Zeitler and keep thugs like Burfict and Pacman. I’m surprised Andy hasn’t started sporting them diamond studded gold teeth yet.
Idiot troll.. Whit and Zeitler weren’t let go. They were offered contracts and chose to go elsewhere. And I’ll give you that Pacman is a turd but Burfict is a thug how? Never a whiff of any trouble with the law. Dude has anger issues no doubt but that stays on the field
Are the Bengals trying to show the world that the Browns aren’t the only dysfunctional and failed organization in Ohio?
My hope is that everyone can find someone, that loves them, as much as Mike Brown loves Marvin Lewis.
Well Brown’s is not the right boy disfunctional owner…man couldn’t find his ass with either hand. But it’s his toy…!
It’s really difficult to field a Super Bowl team with the way Mike Brown does business. I’m not saying Marvin Lewis is the answer, but he’s not the biggest problem.