Bengals need more inspired hire than Hue Jackson

If the Cincinnati Bengals are ever going to consistently fill their stadium — and win a playoff game for the first time since the moon landing — their next move better be their best. If reports are to believed, the Bengals have their sites set on Hue Jackson.

Cincinnati finally, finally canned Marvin Lewis after 16 years ranging from good to dismal. Lewis did a terrific job bringing the Bengals into respectability, but failed all seven times once he reached the postseason. After another boring, dreary 7-9 campaign, owner/general manager Mike Brown finally made the move to relieve Lewis of his duties.

The problem? He’s reportedly interviewing Hue Jackson for the job. Some in the know believe Jackson to be one of the frontrunners for the position, not a current staff member being given the token hour.

If Jackson is hired, Bengals fans have every right to go into full revolt. Hell, Brown should want that kind of response. It would be worse if he gets the more predictable reaction at this point: indifference.

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It’s one thing to have an angry customer on your hands. It’s another to not have a customer who cares at all.

Cincinnati is in a position to swing for the fences, if only Brown would open up his wallet and mind. He’s been severely lacking in both departments for years now, lending credence to the notion that unless Brown’s daughter, Katie Blackburn, leads the charge, the fanbase is out of luck.

Should Hue Jackson end up being the hire, how do the Bengals sell that as a positive? The man is coming off a job where he went 3-36-1 with the Cleveland Browns, a franchise only a few hours up the road from the Queen City. He endured a 1-15 season in 2016 before going 0-16 the following year. He finally won a damn game in Week 3 of this season against the New York Jets, but Cleveland was only 2-5-1 when he was fired. After Jackson left, the Browns immediately improved under interim coach Gregg Williams, finishing out the year at 5-3.

Hue Jackson is 53 years old, and while he’s proven to be a terrific offensive coordinator — holding that post in Cincinnati from 2014-15 — there’s less than zero evidence he should be in the top chair. Evenhis ability to put together a good staff deserves serious questioning, especially when you consider that Todd Haley lasted eight games with Jackson before both were ousted by Cleveland general manager John Dorsey in October.

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It’s been a long three decades in Cincinnati. The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1991. They haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1988, and they have never enjoyed winning a championship.

For Mike Brown, now is not the time to sell the fans short. Cincinnati must go for a coach with upside, not one with a laundry list of losses trailing in his wake.