After over 15 years on the job, Marvin Lewis has finally been fired as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lewis, who took over as Bengals head coach on January 14, 2003, had never won a single playoff game during his 15-year tenure in Cincinnati.
Overall, Lewis went 131-122-3 in 16 seasons with Cincinnati and 0-7 in the postseason. While that postseason record is certainly laughable, people forget that the Cincinnati Bengals were one of the most moribund franchises in the NFL prior to Lewis’ arrival, who undoubtedly built them towards respectability.
And as is the case whenever something major happens in the world — particularly in sports — Twitter reacted with memes and GIFs and jokes galore:
I’m sad to see Marvin Lewis go. He was my role model. 16 years of average work and still kept his job. I’ll tell my kids stories of his accomplishments
— Tony Digs (@ToneDigz) December 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/KofieYeboah/status/1079757618913165313
When Marvin Lewis finally gets fired pic.twitter.com/7XSKLXYcTz
— mars (@marsbrazy) December 31, 2018
After 16 years, Marvin Lewis is no longer the coach of the #Bengals #whodey #seizeanewHC pic.twitter.com/NtshLoXfJC
— Bengal Jim’s BTR (@bengaljims_BTR) December 31, 2018
Don’t do this to me. I can’t take it. https://t.co/yHBellD4Rd
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) December 31, 2018
Now I have to see all the national media Big Js standing up for Marvin Lewis & his career in Cincinnati. A smart franchise would’ve fired the guy after TJ Yates beat him.
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) December 31, 2018
The last time Marvin Lewis wasn't the Bengals coach, the #1 film in America was Kangaroo Jack. pic.twitter.com/69jIasULtY
— Tom Mantzouranis (@themantz) December 31, 2018
Lewis was just one of many head coaches to be fired after the 2018 season, as New York Jets coach Todd Bowles, Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase, Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks, Denver Broncos coach Vance Joseph, and Tampa Bay Bucs coach Dirk Koetter were all fired following their team’s final regular season game.
Additionally, Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson and Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy were fired during the regular season.
Whether Lewis gets another head coaching gig is yet to be seen, but to Cincinnati fans, we’ll leave you with this … the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, so be careful what you wish for.