Dan Pitcher enters his 12th season overall in the NFL and his eighth as an assistant coach with the Bengals. He will again serve as quarterbacks coach this season.
In 2021, Pitcher helped QB Joe Burrow put together arguably the most productive season by a quarterback in team history, as the second-year signal caller set franchise records for passing yardage (4611), TD passes (34) and passer rating (108.3), while leading the league in completion percentage (70.4). Burrow, who returned from an injury suffered in his rookie season, was named the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year. On Dec. 26 vs. Baltimore, Burrow threw for a team-record 525 yards, the fourth-highest single-game total in NFL history.
After helping lead the Bengals to an AFC North Division title — their first in six years — Burrow was instrumental in the team's run to an AFC Championship and berth in Super Bowl LVI. With Pitcher's guidance, he completed 97 of 142 passes (68.3 completion percentage) for 1105 yards and five TDs over four games.
In 2020, Pitcher helped transition Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, to the pro level despite the absence of an in-person offseason program due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Burrow turned in one of the most productive starts to a career by a QB in NFL history, before a knee injury ended the rookie's season after 10 games. Still, his 264 completions were the most ever by an NFL QB through their first 10 career games, while his 404 pass attempts were second and his 2688 passing yards were fifth.
Pitcher in 2020 helped three different Bengals starting QBs — Burrow, Brandon Allen and Ryan Finley — to wins, marking just the second time in team history that as many QBs have gotten into the win column (1984).
In 2019, Pitcher held the title of assistant quarterbacks coach, and was also charged with leading the team's game clock management efforts. He spent the 2018 season as an offensive assistant with a focus on QBs, after serving as offensive assistant with a focus on WRs in '16-17. In each of those two seasons, Pitcher helped guide Bengals QBs through a transition into new offensive schemes. In addition to working with regular starter QB Andy Dalton, Pitcher helped Finley and Jeff Driskel as they both saw their first NFL action and were thrust into the starting role.
In 2018, Pitcher guided Dalton to 21 passing TDs through 11 games before a thumb injury ended his season. The team then transitioned to Driskel, who tossed six TDs to just two INTs and posted an 82.2 rating, despite playing much of his time without several key offensive weapons.
In 2017, while working with the Bengals' receivers, Pitcher helped Green notch 1078 receiving yards and a Pro Bowl nod. He also aided in the development of a young receiving corps which included Tyler Boyd, Alex Erickson and John Ross III.
In 2016, Pitcher's first year in Cincinnati, he helped Boyd, a rookie, and veteran free agent Brandon LaFell step in and combine for 118 catches, 1465 yards and seven TDs.
Prior to joining the Bengals, Pitcher spent four seasons in player personnel with the Indianapolis Colts. He served in 2014-15 as a pro scout, after working as a scouting assistant from '12-13.
With Pitcher on staff, the Colts compiled a 41-23 regular-season record (.641), with three playoff berths, including two AFC South championships. Pitcher was responsible for advance scouting reports on opponents, evaluation of free agents, monitoring rosters and evaluating players on other teams.
Pitcher began his post-playing career in 2012, coaching wide receivers at his alma mater, Cortland State, a part of New York's state university system. He spent 2009-11 as Cortland State's starting QB, and as a senior he was named a finalist for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy, presented annually to the most outstanding Division III football player.
Pitcher was born in Cortland, N.Y. on Jan. 13, 1987. He graduated from Cortland State with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2010, and he earned a master's in sports management in '11. He and wife Marissa have a son, Oliver.
