The team promoted linebackers coach Paul Guenther to replace Zimmer, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.
“Continuity is good. We had a plan in place on both sides of the ball. We lost Kevin to Miami last year,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis told Bengals.com, refering to secondary coach Kevin Coyle’s departure to become the Dolphins defensive coordinator. “But we had another guy we were grooming. I feel as strongly about Paulie. He knows what we do. He knows the players. It’s great to be able to turn to a guy like that.”
Zimmer was tapped Wednesday as the new Vikings head coach.
Zimmer, 57, just completed his sixth season as the Bengals defensive coordinator. He helped build the unit into one of the best in the NFL. This season, they ranked first in the NFL in passing defense and fifth in scoring defense and fifth overall.