Cincinnati Bengals part company with head coach Marvin Lewis

Cincinnati Bengals have parted company with head coach Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons with the franchise.

Lewis told his coaching staff on Monday he was leaving in what has been deemed a new direction for Bengals owner Mike Brown.

The Bengals finished the season with a 6-10 record and bottom of AFC North. Lewis leaves with a 51.78 win percentage and a 0-7 record in the playoffs.

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Following a disappointing 2017 season, the Bengals offered Lewis a two-year contract but they have let him go one year into that deal.

"I want to thank the Bengals' organisation, the fans and the city of Cincinnati for their support," Lewis said.

"I regret I haven't been able to provide them with the No 1 goal of being world champions. I also want to thank our players, coaches and team employees for their effort and professionalism over the past 16 years.

"A lot of fine people have gone through this building in that time, and the organisation is better for all of them having been a part of it."

The 60-year-old, who was hired in 2003, won the AFC North title in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2015.

When he took over, the franchise had lost five straight seasons in a row and had not enjoyed a winning season since 1990.

From 2011 to 2015 the team won more regular season games than any five-year span in the history of the franchise.

"The team is very appreciative of all that Marvin has accomplished over the past 16 years," said Bengals president Brown.

"Personally, I am very fond of Marvin and will miss working with him. He is a friend and a colleague, and I thank him for what he has meant to this franchise.

"But it is time to turn the page and look toward the next chapter for our organisation, and we are excited about what the future holds for the team and our fans."

In the last three seasons, the Bengals have endured three consecutive losing seasons for the first time in Lewis' tenure.