Marvin Lewis
Lewis in 2022 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 23, 1958 McDonald, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| Position | Linebacker |
| High school | Fort Cherry (McDonald, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Idaho State (1977–1980) |
| Career history | |
| |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 131–122–3 (.518) |
| Postseason | 0–7 (.000) |
| Career | 131–129–3 (.504) |
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Marvin Roland Lewis Jr. (born September 23, 1958) is an American professional football coach who served as the head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He came to prominence as the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens from 1996 to 2001, whose defense in 2000 set the record for the fewest points allowed in a 16-game season and led the franchise to their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXV. This success resulted in Lewis being named the Bengals' head coach, where he served from 2003 to 2018.
During Lewis' head coaching tenure, the struggling Bengals had improved fortunes and he helped transform the team into postseason contenders. At the time Lewis was hired, the Bengals had not had a winning season or postseason appearance since 1990 and finished with a franchise-worst 2–14 record. By his third season, Lewis ended both droughts and led the Bengals to their first division title in 15 years. In total, he guided the Bengals to seven playoff appearances and four division titles, along with a franchise-best five consecutive postseason appearances from 2011 to 2015. Lewis became the franchise's winningest head coach and was named AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2009, making him the first Bengals coach to receive the honor since team founder Paul Brown in 1970.
While credited with returning the Bengals to respectability, Lewis' reputation was affected by a lack of postseason success as he was ultimately unable to lead the team to a playoff victory. His 131 regular season victories, 16 years as a head coach, and seven postseason losses are the most of NFL head coaches who have not won a playoff game.