Marvin Lewis

Marvin Lewis (born September 23, 1958 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) has been the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals since 2003. He grew up and started playing football in the Pittsburgh suburb of McDonald.

Related Topics:
September 23 - 1958 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Cincinnati Bengals - Pittsburgh - McDonald

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While Lewis never played in the National Football League, he had ample collegiate experience as both a player and a coach. He was linebackers coach at Long Beach State (1985-1986), the University of New Mexico (1987-1989), and the University of Pittsburgh (1990-1991,) and was head coach of his alma mater, Idaho State University (1981-1984.)

Related Topics:
National Football League - Linebackers - Long Beach State - 1985 - 1986 - University of New Mexico - 1987 - 1989 - University of Pittsburgh - 1990 - 1991 - Alma mater - Idaho State University - 1981 - 1984

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In 1992, Marvin Lewis was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as linebackers coach. It was his first job in the professional ranks, and Lewis was with the organization until he was hired as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens in 1996. In 2000, the Ravens won the Super Bowl, defeating the New York Giants 34-7. His defensive squad, led by Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis (no relation,) set several NFL regular season records, including recording four shutouts, allowing the fewest rushing yards (970) and the fewest points (165) in a 16-game season. Marvin Lewis' reputation as a defensive genius and a rising star among the ranks of the NFL's assistant coaches was solidified by the dominating performance of the Ravens.

Related Topics:
Pittsburgh Steelers - Baltimore Ravens - Super Bowl - New York Giants - Pro Bowl - Ray Lewis

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In 2002, he was hired as the Washington Redskins' defensive coordinator.

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In 2003, Marvin Lewis was hired as head coach by the Cincinnati Bengals, a horrible, beleaguered franchise that had not made the playoffs since the 1990 season and recorded a 2-14 season in 2002, the worst performance in team history. Cincinnati was viewed by many as the Siberia of the NFL.

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Additionally, the organization was beset by legal problems over their new facility, Paul Brown Stadium, and the majority owner, Mike Brown, son of the Bengals' legendary founder, Paul Brown, was excoriated by the fans for incompetence.

Related Topics:
Paul Brown Stadium - Paul Brown

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The Bengals started Lewis' rookie season 1-4, and it looked like they were heading for yet another miserable year, but they recovered and finished the year with a respectable 8-8 record. One key reason was the emergence of veteran quarterback Jon Kitna, who threw for over 3,500 yards, 26 touchdown passes, and won the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year award.

Related Topics:
Jon Kitna - NFL's Comeback Player of the Year

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In the following season, Lewis faced a difficult decision of whom to start at quarterback: the steady, if unspectacular, Kitna, or young Carson Palmer, their Heisman Trophy-winning number one draft pick out of USC in 2003. Palmer, the Bengals' quarterback of the future, did not play during his rookie season, instead learning from Lewis, Kitna, and the offensive coaches on the bench and in practices. Before the 2004 training camp, Lewis named Carson Palmer the Bengals' starting quarterback. The team was plagued with injury problems and difficulty getting used to a new quarterback, and once again the team started the season with a 1-4 record. Lewis' choice to start Palmer seemed like it might have been a bad one, but, as they had done the previous season, the Bengals recovered and finished the season with an identical 8-8 record.

Related Topics:
Carson Palmer - Heisman Trophy - USC

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In 2005, Lewis' Cincinnati Bengals started 4-0, the team's best start since the 1988 season.

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