Former Bengals HC Marvin Lewis is Reportedly a Top Candidate to Take Over as Redskins Coach

Marvin Lewis is a name that will forever live in infamy thanks to the former Bengals coach's inability to win a playoff game. And yet, this name may soon be the one listed next to the words "Head Coach" on the Washington Redskins' team page. Lewis is reportedly a top candidate to take over for interim head coach Bill Callahan in the nation's capital.

After the Redskins fired Jay Gruden earlier this season, Callahan has been calling the shots, though the team only mustered a 3-12 record on the year. It's unlikely that Callahan retains the role in 2020, and now Lewis' name has been dragged to the forefront of the conversation.

Multiple sources have told me that Marvin Lewis is a very real contender for the Redskins head coaching job. He’s not the only one, but the interest is there. https://t.co/IvtBremE8E
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 28, 2019

While Lewis does hold a winning record as a head coach (131-122-3), his 0-7 mark in postseason play is a testament to his inability to win big games. It's easy to see the appeal of bringing in a coach who has a +.500 career record, the Bengals were never able to overcome Lewis's deficiencies despite possessing some of the most talented rosters in the league during the early 2010s.

If Ron Rivera and Marvin Lewis are the leading candidates for the Redskins HC job like has been reported, one thing seems clear - the team wants to keep Kevin O’Connell as offensive coordinator.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 27, 2019

With the team reportedly enamored with their current offensive coordinator, former NFL QB Kevin O'Connell, one has to wonder why the team won't give him the chance to take the reins. After watching the Rams and 49ers poach innovative young offensive minds from their coaching ranks before (Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan), Washington would be foolish to ignore O'Connell's candidacy in order to bring in a stale veteran like Lewis.