Zac Taylor reflects on AFC title game loss, looks ahead on what’s to come in offseason

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WLWT-TV] >> WANT TO DO SOME BREAKING NEWS. HEAD COACH ZAC TAYLOR IS AT THE PODIUM AFTER LAST NIGHT’S LOSS. REPORTER: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY YOU WANTED TO TAKE AWAY FROM LAST SEASON? ZAC: I THINK, AGAIN, THE THINGS THAT ARE WORTH DOING, IT REALLY STINGS WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK IN YOUR FAVOR AND THERE IS GREAT JOY WHEN THEY DO WORK OUT. WE WANT TO BE IN POSITION TO FEEL BOTH OF THOSE EMOTIONS BASED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE GAME. WE PUT OURSELVES IN POSITION TO DO THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND THOSE ARE FEELINGS WE WANT TO BE IN POSITION TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT THE JOY PART OF IT, BUT THE TEAM UNDERSTANDS IT IS A LONG ROAD TO GET BACK EVERY SINGLE YEAR, TO GET BACK. YOU NEVER TAKEN FOR GRANTED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OFF THIS SEASON. >> IS GOING TO GET AN MRI ON HIS KNEE. HAS THAT HAPPENED YET? ZAC: I DON’T KNOW THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED YET BUT THE INTEREST OF FULL TAKE SHAPE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. YOU KNOW, HE IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THEY MOVE THEM AROUND. YOU NEVER KNOW ON A GIVEN PLAY WHERE HE WILL BE. THE GUYS THAT ARE ABLE TO DO THAT, INTO YOUR PLAYERS CAN TURN INTO EXTERIOR PLAYERS. THEY PRESENT REAL CHALLENGES. HE IS A GREAT PLAYER. I THOUGHT OUR GUYS FOUGHT HARD TO KEEP THOSE GUYS AT BAY. I WAS PROUD OF THE WAY THE OFFENSE FOUGHT TO KEEP THEM AND HAVE TIME TO MAKE SOME PLAYS. REPORTER: WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE TEAM WAS SPECIAL. THERE WERE GUYS TEARING UP. I KNOW YOUR BRAIN IS NOT ON IT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE TEAM CHANGES FROM YEAR TO YEAR. DID THAT MAKE IT STING, OR HOW DID IT MAKE YOU FEEL THAT THIS TEAM WILL NOT BE THE SAME? OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE TO KEEP AS MANY PLAYERS AS YOU CAN. HOW DID YOU PROCESS NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY AND THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF SOME OF THESE GUYS? ZAC: THE WHOLE THING HAS NOT TAKEN SHAPE YET SO YOU DON’T QUITE GO THERE. CERTAINLY WE HAVE HAD EXIT INTERVIEWS WITH A LOT OF PLAYERS . GUYS’S CONTRACTS ARE UP. IT IS A GREAT GROUP OF GUYS. I THINK YOU KNOW THAT FROM INTERVIEWING THEM. THERE IS PROBABLY NOBODY YOU INTERVIEWED WHERE YOU DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH THEM. IT SHOWS WHAT WE HAVE IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND NOW THE NEXT PHASE OF THE NFL HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE THIS TRADITIONALLY IN FREE AGENCY AND WE WILL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT FOR OUR GUYS. REPORTER: WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO THAT? ZAC: IT VARIES FROM PLAYER TO PLAYER. THERE ARE THINGS WE ALWAYS WANT TO CONTINUE TO PROVE UP ON -- TO IMPROVE UPON IN OUR OPERATION. BEING THE HEAD COACH FOR FOUR YEARS, THERE ARE ALWAYS THINGS YOU DON’T SEE ANY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LEADERSHIP CAN TELL YOU WHETHER THIS IS REALLY GOOD. THIS IS HOW WE DO THIS AND THIS IS AWESOME, KEEP IT GOING. HERE IS SOMETHING I THINK WE CAN IMPROVE UPON. ALWAYS EAGER TO LEARN AND EVOLVE AND KEEP THINGS FRESH. THAT IS PART OF THE PROCESS. SOMETIMES IT IS TOO FRESH OF DAY AFTER THE LAST GAME. BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF GUYS THAT I HOLD IN HIGH REGARD THAT I EXPECT TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS. REPORTER: IS THERE AN EXAMPLE IN THE PAST YEARS WERE YOU HAVE TAKEN SOMETHING? ZAC: SURE. I WILL NOT GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, BUT PLENTY OF TIMES. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING TO IMPROVE ANYTHING WE CAN IMPROVE UPON. THAT IS PLAYCALLING, OPERATIONALLY, SCHEDULING, ANYTHING WE CAN POSSIBLY DO. REPORTER: IS THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS AVAILABLE TO YOU TO GET CLEAR INFORMATION FROM THE LEAGUE ON WHY CERTAIN THINGS WERE DONE BY THE OFFICIATING CREW YESTERDAY? OR WOULD YOU EVEN FORWARD TAPES OR FILMS TO TRY TO GET FEEDBACK THAT WAY? ZAC: ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP US IN THE FUTURE UNDERSTANDING THINGS. AT THIS POINT, IT IS -- AT THIS POINT, OUR SEASON IS OVER AND IT IS NOT BEST TO DWELL ON THINGS. IF THERE IS ANYTHING OPERATIONALLY THAT WE FEEL WILL BENEFIT US, WE PURSUE THAT IN THE OFF-SEASON AND TRY TO GET BETTER. THE LEAGUE COMES IN AND SENDS MEMOS AND VIDEOS AND YOU ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO GET BETTER. THAT HAS WORKED OUT FOR US. REPORTER: WAS THAT THIRD-DOWN SITUATION YESTERDAY SOMETHING YOU WERE AWARE OF GOING AND WHEN THEY EXPLAINED IT TO YOU? IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE SIDELINE YOU WERE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, WHAT ARE YOU CALLING? ZAC: THERE IS CONFUSION. OBVIOUSLY, IT IS RARE A PLAYER GETS RUN AND THEN YOU REPEAT THE PLAY. INITIAL CONFUSION ON MY END. THEY DID THEIR BEST TO EXPLAIN IT TO ME AND WE MOVED ON. REPORTER: A LOT OF COMMENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FROM KANSAS CITY. IN HINDSIGHT, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY OR WOULD YOU DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN? ZAC: I THINK THIS TEAM HAS AN EDGE AND A CONFIDENCE ABOUT THEM. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALWAYS WANT TO REPRESENT OUR ORGANIZATION AND CITY IN THE RIGHT WAY WITH CLASS, RESPECT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF TIMES YOU GET UP ON THE EDGE. I GET THAT. I LOVE OUR TEAM. THEY ALWAYS COME FROM A GOOD PLACE. WE ALWAYS KEEP THOSE CONVERSATIONS PRETTY INTERNAL. WHEN YOU WIN, YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY. GIVE THEM ALL THE CREDIT. IT WAS A HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT YESTERDAY AND THEY CAME OUT AND TALK AND GOT THE CHANCE TO GO TO THE SUPER BOWL. WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT POSITION YOU GET TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY. REPORTER: ONE OF THE REAL RIVALRIES IN SPORTS. ZAC: YOU HOPE TO BE IN THOSE SHOWDOWNS AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN. PROUD TO BE PART OF THE GAME YESTERDAY. WE CAME UP ON THE WRONG END OF IT, BUT YOU ALWAYS HAVE REGRETS ON THINGS YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY. YOU’RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THINGS THAT COULD HAVE GONE THE OTHER WAY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I WAS PROUD OF THE WAY THE TEAM ARE PRESENTED THEMSELVES ON THE FIELD YESTERDAY. WE GAVE IT OUR BEST SHOT AND CAME UP WITH LITTLE SHORT, BUT YOU ARE ABLE TO GET ON THE PLANE WITH YOUR HEAD HELD HIGH AND GOING TO THE OFF-SEASON AND HAVE A CHANCE TO REFLECT BACK ON GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED THIS SEASON. REPORTER: DOES THE MANTRA RESET NEXT YEAR? DO YOU TAKE IT DOWN AND SAY NEW YEAR, NEW TEAM? ZAC: SOME THINGS CARRY ON FOREVER. SOME THINGS YOU UPDATE AS YOU GO. NO DETERMINATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE ON NEXT YEAR’S SLOGAN. WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT. REPORTER: I DON’T KNOW IF YOU SAW THE VIDEO FROM THE LOCKER ROOM YESTERDAY. WHAT DOES THAT SUPPORT ME AND? ZAC: SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOUR SEASON COMES TO AN END, EVERYONE IS THINKING ABOUT IF I WOULD HAVE JUST DONE THIS DIFFERENTLY. THE THINGS THAT GET HIGHLIGHTED USUALLY ARE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF THE GAME BUT THERE IS ONE THING EVERY COACH AND PLAYER WISHES WE WOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN THE GAME SO THAT WAS AWESOME TO SEE THOSE GUYS SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN A REALLY TOUGH MOMENT. JOSEPH IS A GUY WHO LEAVES HIS HEART AND SOUL ON THE FIELD EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHETHER IN PRACTICE OR GAMES, SO I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT HIM. REPORTER: GOING BACK TO TRAINING CAMP, I GUESS WE WILL START WITH THE APPENDECTOMY FOR JOE BURROW. THEN YOU START 0-2. YOU LOSE JA’MARR CHASE FOR FOUR GAMES. AND THEN YOU REALLY CATCH YOUR STRIDE AND LOSE THREE OF YOUR STARTING OFFENSIVE LINEMEN. I KNOW IT IS LIKE THAT FOR EVERY NFL TEAM WITH CONSTANT ADVERSITY, BUT WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS TEAM AND YOURSELF NAVIGATING THIS TYPE OF SEASON? ZAC: I THINK THAT IS WHY YOUR DEPTH IS SO IMPORTANT. EVERYBODY ON YOUR PRACTICE SQUAD AND ROSTER. THAT IS WHY DUKE AND THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT DO A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE WE ARE READY FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE IT WILL HIT YOU. EVERYONE DEALS WITH INJURIES. JUST PART OF A LONG SEASON. THE OTHER PART IS JUST OUR DIVISION. YOU LOOK AT ALL FOUR TEAMS, THEY SPLIT WITH EVERYONE. THAT SHOWS YOU HOW TOUGH THIS DIVISION IS AND GETS YOU READY FOR THE RUNS WE NEED TO GO ON BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO FIND ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO WIN IN THIS DIVISION. EVERYONE CAME OUT .500 SPLIY THE OTHER TEAM. -- EVERYONE CAME OUT .500, SPLIT WITH THE OTHER TEAMS. WE TAKE PRIDE IN THAT AND IT GETS YOU READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS IN THESE TOUGH MOMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY THE THREE TEAMS WE PLAY EVERY SEASON. REPORTER: SORRY, COACH. ZAC: YOU ARE GOOD. REPORTER: WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE WAS SAID TO THE PLAYERS? IN THE LOCKER ROOM, YOU ARE TALKING TO THEM AND THEY ARE WATCHING THIS NOW, WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE DO YOU WANT TO SEND TO THEM IF THEY ARE WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW? ZAC: THAT THEY SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE WAY THEY CARRIED THEMSELVES THIS SEASON AND ALL THE THINGS THEY ACCOMPLISHED. BACK-TO-BACK DIVISION TITLES. BACK-TO-BACK AFC CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES. FROM 4-4 TO 14-4 AND HAD EACH OTHER’S BACK EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT THINGS TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS YEAR. REPORTER: SORRY, GUYS. WHAT IS THE THEME FOR NEXT SEASON THAT IF YOU WERE TO PUT A TITLE ON IT LIKE A TITLE FOR A MOVIE? WHAT IS THE THEME OR THE TITLE FOR NEXT SEASON? ZAC: THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME NEXT OFF-SEASON ON HOW TO GET THE TEAM BACK UP AND RUNNING FOR NEXT YEAR. I DON’T HAVE THAT ANSWER YET THAT IS SOMETHING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS WE WILL BE READY FOR. REPORTER: THERE IS A LOT OF COMPETITION NOW ABOUT HOW MUCH JOE BURROW IS WORTH TO THE FRANCHISE. ZAC: FORTUNATELY, I DON’T HAVE TO PUT THAT ON PAPER IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT IS. THAT IS THE BUSINESS WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW. HE IS EVERYTHING WE WANT TO BE ABOUT. HE IS A HARD WORKER. HE CARES ABOUT HIS TEAMMATES. HE CARES ABOUT WHERE HE IS FROM, OHIO, THIS FAN BASE. I THINK HE REPRESENTS US THE RIGHT WAY. WE TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN JOE BURROW BEING OUR QUARTERBACK. REPORTER: SINCE YOU ARE PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE? HE IS EXTENSION ELIGIBLE. WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS WANT TO DO? ZAC: I THINK THAT STARTS NOW INTERNALLY, SO AGAIN, JUST WRAPPED UP WITH THE TEAM TODAY AND AS WE GO FORWARD, WE WILL TALK ABOUT JOE AND THE OTHER GUYS COMING UP. REPORTER: THE BACKWARD SOMERSAULT, THE BALL GOT OUT, WAS THAT ROUGHING THE PASSER? ZAC: I DON’T KNOW. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO GET READY FOR NEXT YEAR. REPORTER: HOW MUCH DOES THAT HELP YOU NAVIGATE WITH THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE AND FREE AGENCY WITH GUYS YOU CANNOT BRING BACK? ZAC: THAT IS THE BALANCE YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO STRIKE. WE HAVE REALLY TALENTED PLAYERS AND HE WENT TO WORK TO GET THEM BACK. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ARE BALANCING DEVELOPING PLAYERS. WE WANT ALL OF THESE GREAT PLAYERS THAT WE HAVE. WE WANT THEM BACK. THAT IS A CHANCE TO WORK THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. AT THE SAME TIME, ALWAYS DEVELOPING LIKE SAYING THE BOTTOM OF THE ROSTER BUT ALL OF THE GUYS ON THE ROSTER. WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN DOING THAT. REPORTER: AND THE OFFENSIVE LINE? ZAC: I THINK THOSE GUYS CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE. WE INVESTED A LOT OF RESOURCES IN THAT. IT HAS SERVED US WELL. TO A MAN, EACH ONE OF THEM HAVE IMPROVED. THEY PLAYED WELL TOGETHER AS A GROUP. THE COHESION AND THE CHEMISTRY WAS THERE. THAT MATTERS. THAT PUTS YOU BEYOND YOUR POTENTIAL WHEN YOU GET THOSE FIVE PIECES WORKING TOGETHER. AND THE GUYS THAT HAVE STEPPED UP AS BACKUPS, REALLY PROUD OF THE JOB THOSE GUYS DID THIS YEAR . REPORTER: MONEY IS HONESTLY IMPORTANT, BUT A WINNING CULTURE , A LOT OF OTHER INTANGIBLES ARE IMPORTANT AS WELL. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CULTURE? ZAC: I THINK IT IS GREAT. YOU WANT GUYS THAT -- WE ARE ALL PROFESSIONALS. YOU WANT TO WALK TO YOUR BUILDING EXCITED FOR WORK EVERY DAY. I THINK IT MATTERS. IT MATTERS FOR ME. BUT AGAIN, EVERYONE HAS TO BALANCE THE DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO MAKE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, I LOVE PARKING MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND WALKING THROUGH THE DOORS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A DAY I DREADED DOING IT, SO THAT IS ALL I NEED. AND AGAIN, I THINK THESE PLAYERS REALLY ENJOY BEING HERE AND WE WILL SEE HOW IT SHAKES OUT. REPORTER: A LOT OF INTEREST IN CALLAHAN AND ANOTHER COORDINATOR. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THEM? ZAC: WE HAVE HAD THE SAME THREE COORDINATORS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE, WHICH IS RARE. SPECIAL TO HAVE THAT BECAUSE WE ARE A TIGHT BUNCH. I THINK THAT COMMUNICATION PROCESS HAS BEEN GREAT BETWEEN ALL OF US ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE COACHES. EXCITED THEY ARE GETTING THE OPPORTUNITIES BRIAN HAS TWO OF THEM RIGHT NOW. WE CERTAINLY HOPE THEY GET A CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND BECOME HEAD COACHES. IF THEY ARE BACK, THAT IS GREAT FOR ME AND ALL OF US, BUT THAT IS PART OF BEING A SUCCESSFUL TEAM. PEOPLE WILL COME AND WANT TO TALK TO YOUR COACHES AND WE HAVE GREAT COACHES THAT ARE MORE THAN CAPABLE. REPORTER: IS YOUR PLAN RIGHT NOW TO BRING THE WHOLE STAFF BACK? ZAC: YEAH. I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT STAFF. REPORTER: IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN WITH ONE OF THOSE GUYS, WHAT HAS MADE THEM GOOD COORDINATORS? WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT MAKES FOR A GOOD COORDINATOR? ZAC: THEY ARE REALLY SMART AND HAVE NO EGO. THAT IS A GREAT STARTING POINT. THEY HAVE SUCH TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE BEHIND THEM. YOU LOOK AT THE PLACES THEY HAVE BEEN, THE GUYS THEY HAVE COACHED , THE PEOPLE THEY WORKED UNDER, THE GAMES THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF , AND WE HAVE ALL GROWN TOGETHER. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO IMPROVE. YOU ARE NOT THE PERSON YOU WERE FIVE OR 10 YEARS AGO. I THINK EVERYONE ON OUR STAFF, WE HAVE IMPROVED AS A WHOLE. AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE WILL NOT JUST BE STAGNANT. I THINK THOSE GUYS ALL HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL GOING FORWARD. IF THEY WERE TO LEAVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR STAY HERE. REPORTER: GOING BACK TO THEREPORTER: CULTURE -- REPORTER: GOING BACK TO THE CULTURE, EVERY GROUP HAS ITS OWN CULTURE. BACK TO THE SECONDARY, WHY HAS THAT CULTURE OF THAT NUCLEUS BEEN SO SPECIAL? ZAC: THERE IS A LOT OF VETERAN LEADERSHIP IN THERE. THEY WORK THEIR TAILS OFF. BRINGING THE NEXT MAN ALONG IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM. IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE ROOKIES, I HAVE LIKED WHAT I HAVE SEEN FROM THAT GROUP, MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS IMPROVING. THEIR COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN AWESOME. THERE ARE SOME TREMENDOUS LEADERS IN THE SAFETY AND CORNER ROOM, AND THEY ARE ALL REALLY VALUABLE TO US. REPORTER: THIS IS THE MOST CONNECTED THEY HAVE BEEN WITH THEIR TEAMMATES IN THEIR CAREERS. IS IT SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE LOCKER ROOM OR A COMBINATION? ZAC: I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION. THEY GENUINELY ENJOY BEING AROUND EACH OTHER. I THINK ZAC BURKS HAS BEEN GREAT IN THAT ROOM AS WELL. JUST THE OVERALL LOCKER ROOM. YOU SEE THE DEFENSIVE BACKS HANGING OUT WITH ALL KINDS OF GUYS ACROSS THE BALL, SAME SIDE OF THE BALL. IT IS A SPECIAL TEAMS THAT WAY. REPORTER: THE FIRST TWO YEARS YOU WERE HERE, THE RECORDS WERE WHAT THEY WERE. A DRASTIC CHANGE THE LAST TWO YEARS. WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF HAVING BEEN FRONT AND CENTER OF THE CHANGE THE LAST TWO YEARS? ZAC: THE FOUNDATION THAT HAS BEEN BUILT HERE. IT IS CHANGING. THE CINCINNATI I FACED AS A COACH ON OTHER TEAMS WAS OUTSTANDING. IT IS A NEW START FOR US COACHES THAT COME IN HERE TO BUILD YOUR OWN FOUNDATION. I HAVE BEEN REALLY PROUD OF STICKING TOGETHER THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, WHETHER THAT IS THE COACHING STAFF, FRONT OFFICE, PLAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DEAL, ADDING NEW PLAYERS. I THINK WE ARE PROUD OF THE WAY EVERYONE HAS HAD EACH OTHER’S BACKS AND STOOD FIRM AND GROWN AS A TEAM. IS THAT TRUE, LIKE TOMORROW? [LAUGHTER] REPORTER: DID BURROW’S WRIST CHECK OUT OK? ZAC: I DON’T KNOW THAT YET. I TALKED TO HIM THIS MORNING AND WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION BUT I DID NOT CHECK OUT HIS WRIST. I WILL FIND OUT MORE OF THE INJURY STUFF LATER TODAY. REPORTER: I DON’T KNOW IF YOU WERE ASKED ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS REPORTED A FEW DAYS AGO THAT THERE WAS TURNED DOWN INTEREST FROM OTHER TEAMS AS A COORDINATOR TO STAY HERE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO RETAIN HIM? ZAC: HE IS A GREAT COACH AND THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE FOR HIM TO TALK THROUGH, BUT WE VALUE HIM HERE. HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB. HE HAS HAD VARIOUS ROLES COMING UP HERE THROUGH THE YEARS. WE KEPT HIM AND HE HAS CONTINUED TO GROW FROM THE RECEIVER ROOM TO THE QUARTERBACK ROOM AND PLAYS A HUGE PART IN JOE’S DEVELOPMENT AND OUR GAME PLANNING AND OPERATION ON GAME DAY. HE HAS GIVEN A LOT OF VALUE TO US. WE WILL SEE WHERE IT GOES WITH THE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES BUT I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM BACK. REPORTER: YOU START OFF WITH THE PERSONNEL AND MOVED TO THE COACHING APARTMENT. IS THERE A BENEFIT TO THAT? ZAC: I THINK IT IS GOOD, ESPECIALLY IN THE OFF-SEASON PHASE OF THINGS WHERE YOU ARE EVALUATING PROSPECTS THAT CAN COME THROUGH THE BUILDING, DEVELOPING PLAYERS. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD BACKGROUND TO HAVE. JUST LIKE GUYS THAT HAVE WORKED ON DEFENSE THAT COME TO A FENCE AND VICE VERSA, YOU DON’T ALWAYS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, BUT WHEN YOU DO, THAT IS A GREAT ASSET. REPORTER: SPECIFICALLY WITH THE OFFENSE AS GUYS GROW INTO THEIR ROLES, HOW DO U.S. COACHES EVOLVE WITH THEM -- HOW DO YOU AS COACHES EVOLVE WITH THEM? ZAC: THERE ARE THINGS WE HANG OUR HAT ON THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON AND GET BETTER AT AND THERE ARE NEW WAYS THAT YOU WANT TO BE CREATIVE EACH YEAR AND PUSH THOSE GUYS. I THINK WE GOT A GROUP OF GUYS THAT IS CAPABLE OF BEING REALLY HARD ON THEMSELVES IN UNDERSTANDING WHERE THEY NEED TO IMPROVE TO BE THE BEST OF THE BEST. THOSE GUYS WILL HAVE THAT POTENTIAL. I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE GROUP IS THEY WANT TO BE CHALLENGED AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN EVERY WAY. REPORTER: HOW DO YOU THINK THE ROOKIES PROGRESSED? ZAC: I THINK IT IS A REALLY GOOD CLASS THAT HAS REALLY HELPED US. I WILL NOT GO ONE BY ONE TODAY, BUT I THINK THAT AS THE NAMES ARE ALL COMING TO MY HEAD, A LOT OF THOSE GUYS PLAY SIGNIFICANT ROLES AND ARE GOING TO PLAY SIGNIFICANT ROLES FOR US. SOME DEALT WITH INJURIES. EXCITED TO GET THEM BACK IN THE FALL NEXT YEAR. THINKING ABOUT TYSON. IT IS A REALLY GOOD GROUP. I THINK DUKE AND HIS STAFF DID A GOOD JOB BRINGING THOSE GUYS UP. REPORTER: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE BENGALS AND CHIEFS GAMES BEING SEPARATED BY A THREE POINT MARGIN? SO THRILLING, EACH ONE OF THEM. AS A FAN OR VIEWER, YOU COULD NOT TAKE ONE PLAYOFF -- PLAY OFF. ZAC: THEY ARE EXHAUSTING BUT HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTS. THAT IS WHAT IS FUN ABOUT THIS LEAGUE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO BE PART OF. YOU WANT TO PUT IT ALL OUT THERE AND FEEL TREMENDOUS JOY OR TREMENDOUS AGONY WHEN YOU WALK OFF THE FIELD. THAT JUST MEANS YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PROFESSION DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE TO FEEL THOSE EMOTIONS. THAT IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING. THERE IS ONLY ONE TEAM THAT WILL BE REALLY HAPPY AT THE END OF THE YEAR. YOU ALWAYS TRY TO BE THE ONE TEAM AND WE THINK WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO DO THAT AT SOME POINT. REPORTER: WHEN YOU MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, THE END IS SO ABRUPT UNLESS YOU WIN THE SUPER BOWL. CONSIDERING THE 10 GAME WINNING STREAK AND BEING ONE GIVEAWAY, THIS ONE SEEMED EVEN MORE LIKE A TRAIN HEADING A MOUNTAIN. ZAC: YEAH. YOU IMMEDIATELY FEEL TIRED THIS MORNING BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARING YOURSELF FOR ONE MORE WEEK AND COFFEE OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP YOURSELF GOING AND THE EXCITEMENT. WHEN IT ENDS, YOU JUST FEEL SICK FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS, EVERYBODY. YOUR BODY SHUTS DOWN. I AM SURE THAT IS THE POINT I WILL HIT TOMORROW. BUT I AM DOING MY BEST JUST TO APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THIS TEAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS YEAR. THERE IS A LOT TO BE PROUD OF. TWO THINGS CAN STILL BE TRUE. IT CAN STILL STING AND YOU CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT THIS GROUP ACCOMPLISHED. REALLY PROUD OF THIS GROUP. REPORTER: AS AN OPPOSING COACH, WHAT PATRICK MAHOMES WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, WHAT IS YOUR THOUGHT WHEN YOU THINK BACK? ZAC: HE IS A GREAT COMPETITOR. HE LEAVES IT ALL OUT THERE ON THE FUEL FOR HIS TEAM. HE IS ONE OF THE BEST TO DO IT. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF GAMES YOU LIKE PLAYING IN. LIKE PLAYING AGAINST GREAT COACHES AND PLAYERS AND PLAYERS IN FINDING WAYS TO TRY TO STOP THEM. HE MADE SOME GREAT PLAYS YESTERDAY. I THOUGHT OUR GUYS WERE IN GOOD POSITION. JUST FOUND A WAY TO MAKE PLAYS. THAT IS WHY THEY HAVE BEEN TO FIVE STRAIGHT AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AND WHAT WE ARE STRIVING FOR. WHAT IS THAT? REPORTER: WILL YOU WATCH THE SUPER BOWL? >> AFTER A TOUGH LOSS LAST NIGHT, HEAD COACH ZAC TAYLOR NOTHING BUT PROUD. THEY HAD NOT LOST SINCE HALLOWEEN NIGHT AND THEIR SEASON ENDED LAST NIGHT IN KANSAS CITY. WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO WRAP UP THE SEASON AND COACH TAYLOR’S COMMENTS TONIGHT AT 4:00 AND OUR TEAM FROM KANSAS CITY IS HEADED BACK WITH MUCH MORE ON THE SEASON, THE GAME, EVERYTHING THAT

Zac Taylor reflects on AFC title game loss, looks ahead on what's to come in offseason

Updated: 8:46 PM EST Jan 30, 2023

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is speaking to the media on Monday, less than 24 hours after the team's season ended in a 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.Watch Taylor's press conference in full belowThe loss was the first in franchise history in the AFC title game and denied the Bengals a trip to the Super Bowl.It was also the fourth consecutive meeting between the Bengals and Chiefs decided by three points.While not returning to the Super Bowl is certainly a disappointment, it was still one of the best in franchise history: The Bengals rattled off 10-straight wins, not losing since Halloween night before Sunday's defeat in Kansas City, defeating KC and Buffalo and winning a second-straight division title for the first time in franchise history."It can still sting, and you can be really proud of what you achieved this season with this group of guys, and that's the message for them you looked a Halloween, and we were 4-4, and you looked up, and we were 14-4 and back-to-back AFC North champs and back-to-back AFC championship appearances. So, a lot to be proud of," Taylor said.Taylor said it's a long road to get to where they have been the past two seasons, and they never take it for granted and plan to build off of it next season."The next phase of the NFL happens, where you start to go through this transition leading into free agency, and we'll see how it plays out with a lot of guys," Taylor said.Taylor said the team and coaching staff are always eager to learn and evolve and build off of what they have.When asked if there has been a communication process about clarification on decisions from officiating crews during the AFC Championship, Taylor said, "At this point, our seasons over, and it's best not to dwell on things that could've happened yesterday. If there's anything operationally that we feel like benefits us just to have a better understanding, then we always pursue that in the offseason and try to get better." When asked about the third down situation in the fourth quarter, Taylor said, "There's confusion obviously, it's rare that a play gets run and you repeat the play, so initial confusion on my end, and they tried their best to explain it to me, and we moved on. "This team has an edge and confidence about them. At the end of the day, we always want to represent our organization and our city in the right way, and that's with class and respect. There's plenty of times you get right up on that edge, I get that. I love our team. They always come from a good place, so we always keep those conversations pretty internal," Taylor said.When asked about being part of an exciting showdown in the AFC title game, Taylor said, "You hope to be in those showdowns as often as you can. Proud to be part of that game yesterday, we came up on the wrong end of it." Taylor said there's always things you regret or wish you could change, but he's proud of the team and staff and looking to next year.When asked about what's next for Joe Burrow, Taylor said, "He's everything we want to be about. He is a hard worker. He cares about his teammates. He cares about where he's from, Ohio, he cares about his fan base. We take a lot of pride in having Joe Burrow as our quarterback." As far as the process of an extension, Taylor said he believes that starts now internally. When asked about the team's coordinators being requested for interviews for head coaching positions, Taylor said he's proud of his coaching staff and is excited if they take opportunities elsewhere but also excited for himself if they stay with the team.

CINCINNATI —

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is speaking to the media on Monday, less than 24 hours after the team's season ended in a 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Watch Taylor's press conference in full below

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The loss was the first in franchise history in the AFC title game and denied the Bengals a trip to the Super Bowl.

It was also the fourth consecutive meeting between the Bengals and Chiefs decided by three points.

While not returning to the Super Bowl is certainly a disappointment, it was still one of the best in franchise history: The Bengals rattled off 10-straight wins, not losing since Halloween night before Sunday's defeat in Kansas City, defeating KC and Buffalo and winning a second-straight division title for the first time in franchise history.

"It can still sting, and you can be really proud of what you achieved this season with this group of guys, and that's the message for them you looked a Halloween, and we were 4-4, and you looked up, and we were 14-4 and back-to-back AFC North champs and back-to-back AFC championship appearances. So, a lot to be proud of," Taylor said.

Taylor said it's a long road to get to where they have been the past two seasons, and they never take it for granted and plan to build off of it next season.

"The next phase of the NFL happens, where you start to go through this transition leading into free agency, and we'll see how it plays out with a lot of guys," Taylor said.

Taylor said the team and coaching staff are always eager to learn and evolve and build off of what they have.

When asked if there has been a communication process about clarification on decisions from officiating crews during the AFC Championship, Taylor said, "At this point, our seasons over, and it's best not to dwell on things that could've happened yesterday. If there's anything operationally that we feel like benefits us just to have a better understanding, then we always pursue that in the offseason and try to get better."

When asked about the third down situation in the fourth quarter, Taylor said, "There's confusion obviously, it's rare that a play gets run and you repeat the play, so initial confusion on my end, and they tried their best to explain it to me, and we moved on.

"This team has an edge and confidence about them. At the end of the day, we always want to represent our organization and our city in the right way, and that's with class and respect. There's plenty of times you get right up on that edge, I get that. I love our team. They always come from a good place, so we always keep those conversations pretty internal," Taylor said.

When asked about being part of an exciting showdown in the AFC title game, Taylor said, "You hope to be in those showdowns as often as you can. Proud to be part of that game yesterday, we came up on the wrong end of it."

Taylor said there's always things you regret or wish you could change, but he's proud of the team and staff and looking to next year.

When asked about what's next for Joe Burrow, Taylor said, "He's everything we want to be about. He is a hard worker. He cares about his teammates. He cares about where he's from, Ohio, he cares about his fan base. We take a lot of pride in having Joe Burrow as our quarterback."

As far as the process of an extension, Taylor said he believes that starts now internally.

When asked about the team's coordinators being requested for interviews for head coaching positions, Taylor said he's proud of his coaching staff and is excited if they take opportunities elsewhere but also excited for himself if they stay with the team.