It’s always been a possibility that Browns head coach Hue Jackson could end up back with his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals when his Browns tenure ends.

Well the rumors are ramping up into high gear with four weeks to go.

On Monday afternoon, NFL Network reporter Mike Silver who is a close friend of Jackson mentioned that Jackson could end up coaching elsewhere next season, one of his colleagues mentioned the Bengals to which Silver made the remark, “They’re very comfortable with him.”

Tuesday morning, former Browns offensive lineman and Sirius XM radio host Ross Tucker joined Ken Carman and Anthony Lima on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland and mentioned a trade possibility between the Browns and Bengals:

Tuesday afternoon, CBS NFL writer Jason La Canfora told Baskin & Phelps on 92.3 The Fan that he’s heard the rumor for months and it wouldn’t shock him at all:

That’s three prominent national NFL guys that are all mentioning the same rumor. I’m sure Hue Jackson will be asked about it in his Wednesday press conference and he’ll deny it like he did about the Arizona State job but with three national reporters and the fact Jackson likes to constantly leak info, wouldn’t put it past Hue to try to get out of Cleveland and go back to Cincinnati.

Marvin Lewis has been the Bengals head coach since 2003 and has compiled a 123-110-3 record with a 0-7 record in the postseason. He currently sits at 5-7 and is headed for his second straight losing season after making the playoffs six out of the seven seasons prior.

He’ll likely get to resign or have a mutual parting of the ways with the organization much like Andy Reid did with the Philadelphia Eagles and Tom Coughlin did with the New York Giants.

Hue Jackson had two tenures as an assistant with the Bengals, once from 2004-2006 as a wide receivers coach and then 2012-2015 as secondary coach, running backs coach and the offensive coordinator.

He’s well respected by the organization from the owner Mike Brown to Marvin Lewis and the players that have been there when Jackson was there as an assistant.

Jackson got the most out of Andy Dalton in 2015 when he threw for 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 13 starts. He also helped AJ McCarron look like a competent quarterback for three starts when Dalton was injured.

Question then becomes if the Browns don’t fire Jackson at the end of the season which should happen after an NFL record worst 1-27 start, would Cincinnati call Cleveland to see if they’d trade him.

The last trade involving a head coach was when Oakland traded Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay in 2002. Oakland received Tampa’s first round picks in 2003 as well as two second round picks and cash.

I don’t think it’ll be that much due to Jackson’s coaching record but if Cleveland could gain an extra draft pick, you do the deal especially if Jackson wants to leave.

The rumors have started and I’d expect them to continue to pick up steam over the next several weeks.