Marvin Lewis gets contract extension

CINCINNATI, Oh - The Bengals today signed head coach Marvin Lewis to a two-year contract extension, running through the 2014 season.

            Lewis has led the Bengals to the playoffs in two of the last three seasons, including 2011, and to three postseasons overall, with two AFC North Division championships.

            “Coming off a playoff finish last year, with a solid coaching staff and good young players, continuity at the top gives us our best chance to do well,” said Bengals president Mike Brown. “We are excited about the team’s prospects and happy to have completed this process with Marvin before the 2012 preseason schedule begins.”

            Lewis is in his 10th season as Bengals head coach, already the most in franchise history. He ranks third in the NFL in longest current tenure with one team, behind only Philadelphia’s Andy Reid and New England’s Bill Belichick. The Bengals are one of only 10 teams, less than a third of the NFL, to have reached the playoffs twice in the last three years. They also are in a minority of teams (15) to have qualified for postseason three times in the last seven years.

            “The team we have for this year is as exciting and intriguing as any one I’ve had,” Lewis said. “Our goal is to win the Super Bowl, nothing less, and it’s great to have this extension in place. We have a lot of work to do in order to maximize the potential we have, and it’s exciting to me to come work at it every day. (Wife) Peggy and I love living in Cincinnati, and we love the support our fans give us. Thanks to everyone who has helped make all this happen.”