Justin Rascati is in his third season on the Bengals' staff in 2026 and his eighth as an NFL coach. He again serves as pass game coordinator.
In 2025, Rascati worked with a Bengals offense that featured three different starting QBs throughout the course of the season. He helped scheme a passing attack that contributed to the Bengals ranking sixth in the NFL in net passing yards per game (235.6). WR Ja'Marr Chase finished third leaguewide in receptions (125), while WR Tee Higgins tied for second in receiving TDs (11). QB Joe Burrow returned from a toe injury to start the final six games of the regular season, and during that stretch he led the NFL in completions (152) and ranked third in passing yards (1620).
In 2024, Rascati's first season with Cincinnati, the Bengals led the NFL in passing offense for the first time since 1975 with a franchise-record average of 272.9 yards per game. Burrow set team single-season records and led the league in completions (460), passing yards (4918) and TD passes (43), while Chase claimed the receiving "Triple Crown," as he paced all players in catches (127), receiving yards (1708) and receiving TDs (17).
Rascati came to Cincinnati from the Minnesota Vikings, where he served as assistant offensive line coach from 2022-23. In 2023, Minnesota's O-line helped pass protect for an offense that totaled 4359 net passing yards, the fifth-most in the NFL.
In 2022, Rascati helped oversee an offensive line that blocked for QB Kirk Cousins, whose 4547 passing yards were the second-most in a season in team history. With Rascati on staff, the Vikings won 13 games — their most since 2017 — and clinched the NFC North Division title.
Prior to Minnesota, Rascati spent three seasons (2019-21) as an offensive quality control coach with the Denver Broncos. He spent his first two years primarily assisting Broncos offensive line coach Mike Munchak, then transitioned to work closely with the team's QBs in 2021. That season, veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater posted the second-highest passer rating of his career (94.9).
In 2020, the Broncos allowed the NFL's fourth-fewest sacks (19) over the final 14 weeks of the regular season. Rascati worked with OT Garett Bolles, who started 15 games and earned second-team All-Pro honors.
In 2019, Rascati's first season on an NFL coaching staff, he helped guide a Vikings O-line that opened holes for RB Phillip Lindsay's 1011 rushing yards.
Rascati made the jump to the NFL after seven years in the college coaching ranks. He served as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga from 2017-18, after spending the '16 campaign as offensive coordinator at Tennessee Tech University. He coached wide receivers and held the title of passing game coordinator at the University of Tennessee-Martin from 2014-15.
Rascati's first college coaching job came at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where he coached quarterbacks from 2012-13. He broke into coaching as offensive coordinator at Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville, Ky., from 2010-11.
As a player, Rascati began his college career at Louisville (2003) before transferring to James Madison University for his final three seasons ('04-06). He passed for 5912 yards and 51 TDs in his JMU career, and led the Dukes to a 13-2 record and the program's first FCS national championship in 2004. He went on to play two seasons in the AF2 (Arena Football League developmental league), spending the 2008 season with the Peoria Pirates in Peoria, Ill., and the '09 campaign with the Lexington Horsemen (later known as Kentucky Horsemen).
Rascati was born in Gainesville, Fla., on Feb. 8, 1984. He finished his prep career at Buchholz High School in Gainesville as the school's all-time leader in passing yards (5033) and TD passes (45). He graduated from James Madison in 2007. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three sons — Rhett, Rhys and Riley. Last name is pronounced "rah-SCOTT-ee."
Playing and coaching history: 2002-03—Played QB at Louisville. 2004-06—Played QB at James Madison. 2008—Played QB with Peoria Pirates (Arena Football Developmental League). 2009—Played QB with Lexington Horsemen (AF2). 2010-11—Assistant coach (AC) in Kentucky high school ranks. 2012-13—AC, Weber State. 2014-15—AC, Tennessee-Martin. 2016—AC, Tennessee Tech. 2017-18—AC, Tennessee-Chattanooga. 2019-21—AC, Denver Broncos. 2022-23—AC, Minnesota Vikings. 2024-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
