Will Bengals Fire GM Duke Tobin? Rival Execs Sound Off amid Burrow's Injury, Losses

Now in his 24th season as the de facto general manager of the Cincinnti Bengals, Duke Tobin's future with the organization is a topic of discussion among people within the NFL as they endure another frustrating year.

Per The Athletic's Mike Jones, league insiders have started to "wonder about Tobin's job security" with the Bengals faced with the possibility of missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Some of the issues in Cincinnati this season aren't Tobin's fault. Joe Burrow suffering a turf toe injury that required surgery and has kept him out since Week 2 was just bad luck.

However, the issues around the quarterback position with Burrow unavailable can be traced back to Tobin and the front office not being good at building up the entire roster.

The Bengals missed the playoffs in 2024 largely because of a defense that allowed the eighth-most points in the NFL and ranked 27th in DVOA. Their biggest signing on the defensive side of the ball in free agency was a three-year, $33 million deal to retain B.J. Hill.

Trey Hendrickson, who finished second in 2024 Defensive Player of the Year voting, spent most of the offseason embroiled in a contract standoff with the Bengals.

Cincinnati's top two draft picks were used on defensive players, but neither has made much of an impact. Shemar Stewart, the No. 17 overall pick, has only played in five games due to a knee injury and has yet to record a sack.

Due to the lack of impact additions on that side of the ball, the Bengals have gone from having a bad defense to the worst in the NFL. They are allowing a league-high 33.4 points and 418.2 yards per game.

Instead of focusing heavily on the defense, the Bengals prioritized keeping their top two receivers with Burrow. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both signed long-term extensions in the offseason.

After playing in back-to-back AFC Championship Games in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Bengals have lost Jessie Bates III, Vonn Bell, DJ Reader, Hayden Hurst, and Larry Ogunjobi from their defense.

The Bengals (3-7) are two losses away from clinching their first losing season since Burrow's rookie year in 2020.

Tobin has worked in the Bengals organization since 1999 when he was hired as a scout. They promoted him to director of player personnel in 2002 and he has served as the de facto general manager since then.

Cincinnati has nine playoff appearances and six division titles under Tobin's leadership. The team is 182-195-4 overall since the start of the 2002 season.