The Marvin Lewis-led Cincinnati Bengals are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010, while also putting together their worst season since then, and amidst the disappointment and finality of another failed season for the Bengals, retirement rumors are beginning to swirl for Lewis.

Oddly enough, Chris Cooley (yes, the former Washington tight end) on ESPN980 in Washington this week reported that Lewis is going to retire at season’s end, though ESPN’s Ed Werder recent filed a report refuting Cooley’s report. Lewis only received a one year extension last offseason and rumors about his job status have been swirling as the Bengals season has spiraled downward. Even with these rumors out there, should the Bengals jump and make the coaching change themselves before Lewis can make the decision?

Lewis is the second longest tenured head coach in the NFL behind Bill Belichick in New England. This season will only be the fourth since 2004 that the Bengals finished with a losing record, and his teams have made seven playoff appearances, claiming four AFC North titles in his tenure. From 1991 to 2004, the Bengals never finished with a winning record and reached .500 only once.

Lewis brought stability and consistency to a franchise that has desperately needed it. However, the Bengals have still not won a playoff game in 26 years, something they have consistently failed to do under Lewis.

This season, the Bengals have succumbed to major injuries at many positions, including first round pick William Jackson, tight end Tyler Eifert, and dominant receiver A.J Green, among others, and with the loss of Hue Jackson to Cleveland, the offense lost consistency without its coordinator and many of its key weapons. The offense has scored more than 30 points only twice this season compared to seven last, and many of the coaching errors that have plagued the team on both sides of the ball in past seasons have come back to hurt the Bengals again this year.

In today’s NFL, keeping a coach around for 14 seasons is the exception, not the rule – especially when the coach hasn’t won a playoff game in those 14 seasons at the helm. While the Bengals were an unmitigated disaster before his arrival on the scene, it’s hard not to argue the Bengals don’t need a new voice and a new leader steering their ship. However, the Bengals have been known to move for more stability in recent years, and it would be a bit of a surprise to see that change even now.

What do you think will happen?

[Cincy Jungle/ESPN]