Why the winningest coach in Bengals history decided to take a job as a Raiders assistant for 2024

Marvin Lewis has spent 16 seasons as coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and in that time has accumulated 131 career wins, which more than doubles the number of any other coach in franchise history. After parting ways with the organization following the 2018 season, Lewis maintained his distance from the NFLbut now he is returning.

The invaders announced in January that Lewis would join Antonio Pierce’s staff as an assistant coach in Las Vegas, and four months later, we finally know why Lewis decided to return to the NFL. The former Bengals coach held his first press conference this week since taking the job and was asked why he decided to join the Raiders after spending the past five seasons at Arizona State.

“I think just the opportunity to really help [Pierce]” said Lewis, via NFL.com.

Lewis and Pierce actually have a long history together that goes back more than 20 years. Before taking the Bengals head coaching job in 2003, Lewis spent one season as Washington’s defensive coordinator in 2002. During that year, Pierce was a linebacker in Lewis’ defense. The two crossed paths again at Arizona State, where they served together on the same coaching staff for four seasons (2018-21).

“From the time I met him and had the opportunity to coach him, and then the opportunity to meet again later at Arizona State — so I kind of was in a similar role at one point there with him as well. , supporting him, I was really impressed with him the whole time,” Lewis said. “Back to 2002 with the now Commanders, I guess. So, it’s just this opportunity.”

Pierce has proven he’s eager to learn from former coaches, another reason Lewis liked the idea of ​​training with him in Las Vegas.

“He’s not stuck with himself in that way,” Lewis said. “He wants to hear other people’s point of view and so on. And that’s good, but he himself has great direction as a leader. He takes responsibility for providing direction and reinforcing it every day.”

Before taking the Bengals job 21 years ago, Lewis had a lot of success as an assistant. Not only did he manage to reach the Super Bowl as a member of the Steelers’ coaching staff in 1995, but was also the defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Ravens in 2000, a team that had one of the best defenses in NFL history. In both of these situations, Lewis learned from Bill Cowher and Brian Billick, and the 65-year-old wanted to pass on his knowledge to Pierce.

“I think that was helpful to me when I had the opportunity to become a head coach, and I hope I can help benefit AP in that way as well,” Lewis said.

Pierce has built a coaching staff with a wealth of experience. In addition to Lewis, the Raiders also have former Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin (senior offensive assistant), along with Patrick Graham (defensive coordinator), Rob Ryan (senior offensive assistant) and Edgar Bennett (wide receivers), who earned a Super Bowl as a player with the Packers. The Raiders also have linebackers coach Mike Caldwell, who won a Super Bowl while serving as an assistant in Tampa Bay in 2020.

It’s a team with a lot of experience, so the Raiders should be ready for almost any situation thrown at them this year.