Marvin Lewis facts for kids
Lewis in 2022
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| Personal information | |
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| Born: | September 23, 1958 McDonald, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Fort Cherry (McDonald, Pennsylvania) |
| College: | Idaho State (1977–1980) |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season: | 131–122–3 (.518) |
| Postseason: | 0–7 (.000) |
| Career: | 131–129–3 (.504) |
| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Marvin Roland Lewis Jr. (born September 23, 1958) is an American professional football coach. He is best known for being the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals for 16 seasons, from 2003 to 2018. He also served as the assistant head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Lewis first became famous as the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. In 2000, his defense set a record for allowing the fewest points in a 16-game season. That same year, the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. This amazing success led to him getting the head coach job with the Bengals.
When Lewis joined the Bengals, they had not had a winning season in over a decade. He helped turn the team around, making them regular contenders for the playoffs. Under his leadership, the Bengals went to the playoffs seven times and won their division four times. He is the winningest coach in the team's history and was named Coach of the Year in 2009.
Even though he made the Bengals a much better team, Lewis was never able to win a playoff game. He holds the record for the most playoff appearances (seven) for a head coach without a single win.
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Early Life and College
Marvin Lewis was born in McDonald, Pennsylvania, a small town near Pittsburgh. He began playing football when he was nine years old. In high school, he played safety and quarterback. He also wrestled and played baseball.
After high school, Lewis received a scholarship to play football at Idaho State University. He mostly played linebacker, a defensive position. He was so good that he was later inducted into Idaho State University's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He earned both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Idaho State.
Coaching Career
College and Early NFL Career
Lewis started his coaching career at his old college, Idaho State, as a linebackers coach. In his first year, the team won the NCAA Division I-AA Championship. He then coached at other universities, including Long Beach State University, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Pittsburgh.
In 1992, Lewis moved to the National Football League (NFL) as the linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A few years later, he became the defensive coordinator for the newly formed Baltimore Ravens.
His time in Baltimore was very successful. The defense he coached was one of the best in history. In 2001, the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV by defeating the New York Giants 34–7. The defense was a huge reason for the win. After this victory, many people thought Lewis would soon become a head coach.
Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach
Turning the Team Around (2003–2005)
On January 14, 2003, Marvin Lewis was hired as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. The team had been one of the worst in the league for many years. Lewis quickly began to rebuild the team with young, talented players like quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Chad Johnson.
After two seasons of finishing with an 8–8 record, Lewis led the Bengals to an 11–5 record in 2005. This was their first winning season and first playoff appearance since 1990. Unfortunately, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Ups and Downs (2006–2010)
The next few years were a mix of good and bad seasons. The team had some disappointing years, including a 4–11–1 record in 2008.
However, in 2009, the Bengals bounced back with a 10–6 record and won their division. They beat every team in their division, the AFC North, which was a first for the franchise. For this amazing turnaround, Lewis was named the NFL Coach of the Year. Still, the team lost again in the first round of the playoffs.
Five Straight Playoff Trips (2011–2015)
The years from 2011 to 2015 were a high point for the Bengals under Lewis. The team made it to the playoffs for five straight seasons, which was a team record. This was especially impressive because the team had to rebuild with new players like quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A. J. Green.
During this time, Lewis became the winningest coach in Bengals history. The team won their division again in 2013 and had their best season under Lewis in 2015 with a 12–4 record.
Despite all the regular season success, the Bengals could not win in the playoffs. They lost in the first round every single year from 2011 to 2015. This was very frustrating for the team and its fans. The 2015 playoff loss to the Steelers was especially tough, as the Bengals lost in the final seconds after some costly penalties.
Final Seasons in Cincinnati (2016–2018)
After five years of making the playoffs, the Bengals started to struggle again. They had losing records in 2016, 2017, and 2018 and missed the playoffs each year.
After the 2018 season, Lewis and the Bengals agreed that it was time for a change. On December 31, 2018, they announced they were parting ways. Lewis left as the only Bengals coach since 1978 to have an overall winning record.
After the Bengals
After leaving the Bengals, Lewis returned to college football. He worked as a special advisor and later as a co-defensive coordinator at Arizona State University.
In February 2024, Lewis returned to the NFL. He was hired as the assistant head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, working with head coach Antonio Pierce.
Personal Life
Lewis is married and has two children, a daughter and a son. His son, Marcus, is also a football coach.
