Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Zac Taylor is bringing back a specific request he had for the fans last year while he and the Cincinnati Bengals prepare for the 2026 NFL season.
Taylor is entering Year 8 of his head coaching career in the NFL with the Bengals. He seeks a resurgence after seeing a four-year streak of winning seasons come to an end following a disappointing 2025 campaign.
Cincinnati is at its best when Joe Burrow is healthy while firing passes to star receiver Ja'Marr Chase. It will be crucial for the team to help their star quarterback avoid injury and deliver big performances in the most crucial games.
Taylor conversed with media on Monday, addressing questions about the upcoming season opener. Then a reporter recalled a demand the coach had for fans last year, wondering if it will be the same this season. It didn't take long for him to give a clear answer on that front.
“Talking about the fans last year, Week 1's plea from you was to make sure you didn't see anybody taking that escalator. Do you have a message to the fans?” a reporter asked.
“We won that game, so that was great coaching by me. So same thing,” Taylor responded.
Before last year’s home opener, Zac Taylor asked fans to be off the escalator and in their seats on time for kickoff. He is looking for the same this season.#Bengals pic.twitter.com/yNnkN5av9y
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) September 7, 2026
What lies ahead for Zac Taylor, Bengals this season
Zac Taylor may be on the hot seat if he is unable to have winning campaign with the Bengals and get them to the playoffs this year.
Taylor has led the franchise to two playoff appearances, making the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022. However, injuries and inconsistent play have prevented the Bengals from returning to those heights. It will be up to the coach to achieve that objective this campaign.
The Bengals will seek to improve upon their 6-11 record from the previous season. They also intend to make the playoffs after a three-year absence and put an end to three consecutive seasons of not winning the AFC North.
Cincinnati gets the 2026 campaign underway at home. They host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as kickoff commences on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.