Bengals' Sherm Lewis named NFL Coach of the Year

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis today was named 2009 NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.

            The prestigious award has been given annually since 1957, and Lewis is the second to win it as head coach of the Bengals. Paul Brown won the award with the 1970 Bengals, who captured the AFC Central Division championship in Cincinnati’s first year in the NFL.

            “This is a reflection of the work of all our players and coaches,” Lewis said. “I’m very flattered to receive the honor, but there are a lot of people here who should also take a bow. And while we’re proud of the season we had, we didn’t  get beyond our first goal (winning a division championship). There is a lot more for us to accomplish in 2010.”

            Lewis guided the Bengals to the AFC North Division championship, with a 10-6 regular season that included Cincinnati’s first-ever sweep of its divisional opponents. The Bengals went 6-0 against AFC North rivals Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

           

The team was kept on course despite three tragedies that befell the franchise 

during the season. In September, a tsunami in Samoa affected the lives of several  Bengals players with ties to the area. In October, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer suffered the sudden death of Vikki Zimmer, his wife of 27 years. And in December, WR Chris Henry died in an accident while visiting his fiancé’s family in North Carolina.

            “We did all we could to keep the players focused on our football task while we gave  honor and support to our family members in need,” Lewis said. “We are fortunate to have a great group of players who could come together and stay strong.”

            In 2003, his first Bengals season, Lewis finished second to New England’s Bill Belichick in balloting for the AP honor. The Bengals were the NFL’s most improved team in 2003, as Lewis led an 8-8 season for a club that had won only two games the year before.