Dan Pitcher
Offensive Coordinator, Cincinnati Bengals (CIN).
Quick Facts
- Role: Offensive Coordinator
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals (CIN)
- NFL experience: 10 years
- Reports to: Zac Taylor (Head Coach)
- Coaching tree: see Coaching Trees
Background
Dan Pitcher completed his 10th season on the Bengals' coaching staff in 2025, and his second as offensive coordinator. He previously coached QBs from 2020-23.
Scheme & Fantasy Angle
As offensive coordinator and a former Bengals quarterbacks coach, Pitcher helps steer an offense built around Joe Burrow and a high-volume passing attack, the engine of Cincinnati's fantasy production.
2026 Offensive Strategy
Pitcher has identified two key improvement areas for 2026: turnover reduction and big plays on first/second down. On turnovers, Pitcher emphasized decision-making and processing technique rather than conservative play-calling—Burrow's elite 0.7% turnover-worthy play rate in 2024 suggests the QB's processing is the advantage here. On explosive plays, Pitcher noted league-wide trend toward two-high safeties and risk reduction, which compresses big plays. (per Dan Pitcher Emphasizes Two Areas Bengals Offense Needs To Improve Ahead Of 2026 Season)
Under-center offensive shift (June 2026): Pitcher is plotting a notable scheme adjustment for 2026: increasing use of under-center formations to attack vertically. Citing data that explosive offenses need an under-center component, Pitcher stated "I believe in what those numbers say, and we are going to have to explore that part of our offense." The Bengals had shifted to shotgun-heavy starting in 2022, but during 2020-2021 under-center was a core part of the scheme (leading to back-to-back Conference titles). This 2026 pivot could open new run-game and play-action windows while Burrow balances the quick-game approach. Joe Burrow's 111 under-center plays rank 27th out of 29 QBs since 2023, so the Bengals are statistical outliers in shotgun frequency. (per Bengals OC plans to use Burrow under center more often)