Breaking News: Bengals Part Ways with Top Officials Ahead of 2025 Season
The Cincinnati Bengals are continuing their defensive overhaul, making changes to their coaching staff as they prepare for the 2025 season. According to WLWT reporter Charlie Clifford, senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner and defensive quality control coach Louie Cioffi will not be returning to the team. These moves are part of the team’s ongoing efforts to revamp its coaching structure.
Mark Duffner has a long history with the Bengals. He initially joined the team in 1997 as the linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. After a few years away from the franchise, Duffner rejoined the Bengals in 2019 as a senior defensive assistant, serving under head coach Zac Taylor during his first coaching staff. Duffner’s experience and leadership were considered key assets to the defense during his tenure, but now he will be moving on.
Bengals senior defense assistant Mark Duffner and defensive quality control coach Louie Cioffi also will not return to the team next season per source.
That makes five departures from Cincinnati’s 2024 staff on the defensive side of ball.
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) January 12, 2025
Louie Cioffi also has a lengthy connection to the Bengals, having joined the team in 1997. Cioffi served as assistant defensive backs coach until the 2010 season. After leaving the Bengals for a time, Cioffi made his return in 2021 as the defensive quality control coach, where he contributed to improving the defensive strategy and personnel decisions. Despite his efforts, Cioffi will not be continuing with the team into the 2025 season.
With these recent changes, the Bengals have parted ways with several coaches this offseason. The full list of coaches no longer with the team includes defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack, defensive line coach Marion Hobby, linebackers coach James Bettcher, senior defensive assistant Mark Duffner, and defensive quality control coach Louie Cioffi. The team is clearly in the midst of reshaping its coaching staff to improve its defensive performance moving forward.