Cincinnati Bengals: Who Are Candidates To Replace Marvin Lewis As Head Coach?

Marvin Lewis, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, is on the hot seat. Lewis, whose contract is up after this year, has shown to be a decent coach. He regularly fields a sloppy team but usually wins half of his games. The same pre-snap penalties occur game after game. He makes puzzling decisions seemingly every game.

In his favor, Lewis dragged the franchise out of an embarrassing decade of football. He helped make the organization respectable. His teams have made the postseason twice.

This year, Lewis has taken what many believe is the best team he has had on paper and turned it into a disappointing 2-4 record. Clearly, Lewis will not take the Bengals to the next level.

Lewis is said to be seeking an indoor practice facility, a general manager and more say over personnel decisions. Since those things won't happen, here is a list of coaches that could take his place.

Mike Zimmer

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IRVING, TX - NOVEMBER 20: Defensive Coach Mike Zimmer, foreground, and Headh Coach Bill Parcells of the Dallas Cowboys watch play from the sideline during their game against the Detroit Lions on November 20, 2005 at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The C

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer appears to be the front runner if the position was available. His appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks'' proved that he is head coaching material. The players love him, and he has turned the Bengals defense around.

The last time the Bengals promoted their defensive coordinator to head coach was when Dick LeBeau took the job. The results were horrible.

Paul Alexander

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CINCINNATI - 2009: Paul Alexander of the Cincinnati Bengals poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by NFL Photos)

When looking at candidates, people tend to forget about Paul Alexander. He is the team's offensive line coach but he has been the team's assistant head coach since Marvin Lewis joined the Bengals way back in 2003. Alexander has been a Bengals coach since 1994 and is signed for two more years after the season. Mike Brown is as loyal as they come.

The last time the Bengals promoted a line coach to head coach was when coaching legend Paul Brown retired and named Bill "Tiger" Johnson as his successor after passing over Bill Walsh. Johnson did go 10-4 his first year but Walsh went on to coaching greatness.

Hue Jackson

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BALTIMORE - DECEMBER 5: Wide receivers coach Hue Jackson of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2004 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Bengals defeated the Ravens 27-26. (Photo by Do

Hue Jackson is the offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. He has no head coaching experience but not many proven, experienced coaches would even take the job. Jackson has a history with the organization having spent 2004-2006 as the receivers coach.

The last time the Bengals hired an accomplished assistant coach from another team to take over was when they hired Marvin Lewis. He sees better than he hears.

Dick Jauron

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Dick Jauron of the Buffalo Bills reacts to his teams play against the Tennessee Titans in their NFL game at LP Field on November 15, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images)

Dick Jauron is the defensive backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has plenty of head coaching experience. He was the head coach for the Buffalo Bills for three years and the Chicago Bears for four years. His best season came in 2001 with the Bears when they were 13-3. He was the AP Coach of the Year. To top it off, Jauron is a former Bengal player.

The last time a former Bengal player was named head coach was when Bruce Coslet got the job.  Coslet is often fondly remembered for declaring, "We suck!" after a game.

Brian Kelly

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SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish watches as his team takes on the Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on September 25, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Stanford defeated Notre Dame 37-14. (Photo by Jo

Brian Kelly will one day coach in the NFL. He is a great coach and has the Cincinnati connection.

Yeah, he did just sign up for one of the top jobs in college football. However, Kelly has shown that contracts, like records, are made to be broken. Also consider that Kelly has always said that it is his goal to coach at the highest level. On the other hand, Kelly is off to a disappointing start for the Irish.

The last time the Bengals promoted a college coach to the big time was when they hired Sam Wyche. That worked out pretty well until the awkward part at the end.

Bob Bratkowski

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GEORGETOWN, KY - JULY 28: Quarterback Carson Palmer #9 and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski of the Cincinnati Bengals talk during training camp at Georgetown College on July 28, 2003 in Georgetown, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Bob Bratkowski is the offensive coordinator for the Bengals. Most fans hate his play-calling. His critics think he is much too predictable.

Despite that, Mike Brown likes Bratkowski a lot. He has been in Cincinnati for a long time for a reason. He also would be the kind of yes man that Brown admires.

The last time the Bengals promoted an offensive coordinator to head coach was when Bruce Coslet got the job.  Coslet was 7-28 in his last three years when he quit after an 0-3 start in 2000.

Brian Schottenheimer

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets talks with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer at Reliant Stadium on September 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Brian Schottenheimer is the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. He is regarded as a future head coach in the NFL. He has been a candidate in other places so the Bengals would have to step up to get him.

Schottenheimer's work with a young quarterback like Mark Sanchez is impressive. He is creative and could jump start the Bengals offense if he puts his stamp on it.

The last time the Bengals hired a coaching legend's son was when Dave Shula got the job. That was a complete disaster.

Gregg Williams

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Jonathan Vilma #51 talks with Gregg Williams of the New Orleans Saints during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Gregg Williams is the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. Williams also has head coaching experience with the Buffalo Bills. He didn't do well there, but the experience counts for something.

Williams' is highly thought of especially after the Super Bowl when his defense made it tough on Peyton Manning to get anything going.

The last time the Bengals hired a defensive coordinator from another team was when Marvin Lewis got the job. That worked out OK.

Marty Schottenheimer

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SAN DIEGO - JANUARY 14: Head coach Marty Schottenheimer of the San Diego Chargers reacts during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game against the New England Patriots held on January 14, 2007 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumen

Another Schottenheimer might consider this job. Marty Schottenheimer is 67-years-old so this is a long shot anyway.

However, Schottenheimer has had a lot of success as an NFL coach. His overall record is 200-126-1. Schottenheimer won at every one of his stops except for his stint with the Washington Redskins.

He is known as a playoff choker, but making the playoffs year after year would be a welcome change.

The last time the Bengals hired a proven winner to take over was...oh...yeah, it never has happened before.

Bill Cowher

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PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 5: Bill Cowher stands on the field before the Baltimore Ravens game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 5, 2007 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Bengals fans remember "The Chin" using the Who Dey chant to celebrate a Steeler victory. That wasn't a good memory. However, if Cowher won games like he did in Pittsburgh (.623 winning percentage), that would be forgotten.

Of course, it is highly unlikely that he would ever coach for Mike Brown.

The last time the Bengals hired a Super Bowl winner to take over was...oh...yeah, that never has happened before.

Jim Harbaugh

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EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Stanford Cardinal looks up at the scoreboard in the fourth quarter of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won the game 52-31. (Photo by Ste

Jim Harbaugh is the head coach at Stanford. He is a former NFL quarterback who has turned the Cardinals into a top-ranked team although his winning percentage is only .512. His brother John Harbaugh is doing very well with the Baltimore Ravens. That rivalry would be enhanced if these brothers were going head-to-head twice a year.

Most NFL "experts" think Harbaugh will give the NFL a try before hanging up the headset. He was even born in Toledo, Ohio so he may want to return.

Mike Mularkey

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Mularkey of the Buffalo Bills looks on during their game against the New York Jets on January 1, 2006 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.The Jets defeated the Bills 30-26.(Photo by Jim McIsaac

Mike Mularkey is the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator. He is another former Buffalo Bills head coach which is a plus even though he quit.

Mularkey has done well in Atlanta and is another guy that has done well with a young quarterback.

Charlie Weis

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PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis points to the replay during their game against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium on November 28, 2009 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Charlie Weis is the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are having a very good season so far. Everyone knows that he didn't do well at Notre Dame, but Weis is an NFL guy.

Weis also worked under Bill Belichick in New England. Some of that genius might have rubbed off.