CINCINNATI (Dec. 20, 2000) — The Cincinnati Bengals removed any uncertainty regarding their coaching situation by signing Dick LeBeau to a multi-year contract Wednesday at undisclosed terms.

LeBeau took over on Sept. 25 for Bruce Coslet, who resigned one day after a 37-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Bengals are just 4-8 under LeBeau, but one of those wins was a 17-14 decision Sunday over the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had won five of their previous six games.

"Dick took over a difficult situation and has earned everyone's respect with the way he handled the job," Bengals president Mike Brown said.

"I have been particularly impressed with the vocal display of support Dick has received from our players. He is a straight shooter. He tells them how things have to be, they respond, and they like it that way."

The Bengals are 4-11 this season, yet look much better than the club that was outscored 74-7 in losing its first three games. Cincinnati concludes its season this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Bengals have not had a winning season since 1990, and will try to reverse that behind the 63-year-old LeBeau, who did not receive an interim tag at the time of his hiring.

"I'm grateful to Mike Brown for the confidence he has shown in me," LeBeau said. "It's the greatest opportunity of a long NFL career for me. I'm eager to begin planning for next season, but only after we focus exclusively this week on the Philadelphia Eagles."

Best known as the architect of the zone blitz, LeBeau has been an NFL assistant for 27 years and was the coordinator of two Super Bowl defenses with the 1988 Bengals and 1995 Pittsburgh Steelers.