Bengals have rare coach opening

CINCINNATI — Bengals owner Mike Brown must decide whether to bring in another newcomer to coach his team, or return to his pattern of trusting someone he already knows well. Whoever gets the job will inherit a roster on the cusp of significant change.

Brown parted ways with head coach Marvin Lewis on Monday after 16 seasons with- out a playoff win. Lewis’ stay in Cincinnati demonstrated how the owner would rather stick with what’s comfortable than leave his comfort zone and try someone new.

“It will be interesting to see,” linebacker Nick Vigil said. “We haven’t had change around here in 16 years.”

Brown has a history of accepting as little change and as much continuity as possible. He elevated Dave Shula from the staff to head coach in 1992, Bruce Coslet in 1996 and Dick LeBeau in 2000, all the while failing to get a playoff berth. He went against his history by hiring Lewis in 2003 and got a playoff berth two years later. The two formed a close bond that was integral to Lewis’ 16-year tenure despite an NFL-worst 0-7 mark in the playoffs.

Brown has options for his next coach that could fit his comfort zone. He’s familiar with Hue Jackson, who spent eight years on Lewis’ staff. The Bengals quickly rehired Jackson when the Browns fired him as their head coach. Brown also is familiar with Vance Joseph, who was fired Monday by the Broncos.