After Brian Callahan crossed the Mason-Dixon line, the Cincinnati Bengals got precisely what they wanted when they hired Dan Pitcher as their offensive coordinator.
Pitcher would not have stayed if he had not wanted to; a tango requires two people.
Pitcher has been a member of the Bengals for almost ten years—longer than Zac Taylor, the head coach. He had other options, but none of them compared to quarterback Joe Burrow of the Bengals.
Pitcher believed that staying at Cincinnati was “the ideal scenario,” but it didn’t hurt to hear from outsiders that Burrow is the best place to continue coaching a top quarterback.
Pitcher remarked, “Yeah, it’s huge,” regarding sticking with No. 9. Many respected professionals with excellent perspectives have contacted me, and virtually without exception, their recommendation is to cling on for as long as possible if you have an outstanding quarterback. And here it is, for our reference.”
Despite coming into the NFL off the back of one of the best seasons ever for a college quarterback, Burrow wasn’t an elite player right away. The Bengals now have a chance to compete with any club in the league thanks to Pitcher’s four years of work with Burrow. Pitcher is just as interested in his development on the pitch as he is in his performance off the pads.
Pitcher described Burrow as a “elite player,” noting just that. “I’ve learned so much about him personally. He is a unique individual. He is unique. Not many people are made like him.”
Ten times out of ten, being intimately associated with the development and achievements of a premier quarterback will get notice. Additionally, the 37-year-old pitcher will have more opportunities as the Bengals’ success increases.
“To get to continue working with him day in and day out, knowing that we have a guy that can can win us a world championship, it’s hard to put a price on that.”
If the Bengals do win it all with Pitcher as the offensive coordinator, an offer too good to refuse will soon arrive in his email.
His top concerns at the moment are ensuring that if turns into when.
