The history of the Cincinnati Bengals is one of the most fascinating stories in the NFL.
Founded by Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown, The Bengals entered the American Football League in 1968 and became part of the NFL following the AFL-NFL merger. The franchise has produced Hall of Fame players, NFL MVPs, innovative offenses, dramatic playoff victories and three Super Bowl appearances.
Cincinnati has yet to win a Super Bowl, but the Bengals have built several teams that came within one game of becoming NFL champions.
From Ken Anderson and Anthony Muñoz, to Boomer Esiason and Ickey Woods, to Chad Johnson and Carson Palmer, and finally to Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals have repeatedly built their identity around talented quarterbacks, explosive receivers and some of the most memorable personalities in football.
The Birth of the Bengals
The Bengals’ story begins with Paul Brown. After leaving the Cleveland Browns following the 1962 season, Brown remained away from professional football for several years. He eventually became the driving force behind bringing professional football back to Cincinnati.
Cincinnati was awarded an AFL franchise in 1967, with Brown becoming the organization’s founder, head coach and general manager.
The team began play in 1968.
Brown chose the name Bengals, a name that connected the new franchise to previous Cincinnati professional football teams that had used the same nickname. The Bengals struggled during their first season, finishing 3-11, but Brown immediately demonstrated his ability to build an expansion team.
The following year, Cincinnati drafted quarterback Greg Cook fifth overall. Cook became an instant sensation. Unfortunately, his shoulder injury during the third game of the 1969 season permanently altered what appeared to be a potentially spectacular career. Cook won AFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and the AFL passing title, but he played only one more game after 1969. His story remains one of the great “what if?” stories in Bengals history.
Bengals Owners
The Bengals have had remarkable ownership continuity compared with most NFL franchises. 1967-1991: Paul Brown
Paul Brown was the founder and controlling figure of the franchise. He remained the organization’s principal owner and general manager until his death in 1991.
1983-1990: John Sawyer: John Sawyer became a significant shareholder and served as an owner/president during the later Paul Brown years.
1991-Present: Mike Brown and the Brown Family
Following Paul Brown’s death in 1991, his son Mike Brown assumed control of the franchise. The Brown family has retained controlling ownership ever since. The Bengals have therefore remained locally owned throughout their history. The team said in 2011 that the Brown family continued to hold the controlling interest after purchasing shares previously held by the estate of original shareholder Austin E. “Dutch” Knowlton.
Original Ownership Group
The original franchise also included several Cincinnati investors, including Austin E. “Dutch” Knowlton, John Sawyer and other local investors. Knowlton was an important early shareholder, and the Bengals later purchased his estate’s stake.
So, in terms of the franchise’s controlling ownership:
Paul Brown → Mike Brown/Brown family
That continuity is one of the defining characteristics of the Bengals.
Home Stadiums
The Bengals have played in three principal home stadiums. 1. Nippert Stadium — 1968-1969
The Bengals played their first two seasons at Nippert Stadium, on the University of Cincinnati campus. The stadium was considerably smaller than the downtown facility that was being constructed, but it became the birthplace of Bengals football.
Cincinnati played its first preseason game there in August 1968.
2. Riverfront Stadium — 1970-1999In 1970 the Bengals moved downtown to Riverfront Stadium, which they shared with baseball’s Cincinnati Reds.
The stadium became the backdrop for some of the greatest moments in franchise history, including:
- The 1970 AFC Central championship
- Ken Anderson’s MVP season
- The 1981 playoff run
- The 1982 “Freezer Bowl” victory
- The 1988 Super Bowl season
- The Ickey Shuffle
The stadium was renamed Cinergy Field in 1996 and remained the Bengals’ home through the 1999 season.
3. Paycor Stadium — 2000-Present
The Bengals moved into their new riverfront stadium in 2000.
It was originally called Paul Brown Stadium, honoring the franchise founder.
In 2022, naming rights were sold to Cincinnati-based Paycor, making the official name Paycor Stadium.
The stadium remains the home of the Bengals in 2026.
It has become known throughout the NFL as “The Jungle.”
The Paul Brown Era
Brown coached the Bengals from 1968 through 1975. His teams reached the playoffs three times, including the remarkable 1970 season.
In only their third season, the Bengals won the AFC Central at 8-6 and became the youngest franchise at the time to reach the playoffs. Brown won the AFL Coach of the Year Award in 1969 and the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award in 1970.
Brown stepped down as head coach after the 1975 season. His final Bengals team went 11-3, still the best regular-season winning percentage in franchise history. Brown remained heavily involved in the organization as general manager. He died in 1991. His influence, however, never disappeared.
The 1981 Bengals and Ken Anderson
The 1981 Bengals produced the franchise’s first Super Bowl team. The team went 12-4 and won the AFC Central. At quarterback was Ken Anderson, who had been with Cincinnati since 1971. Anderson had one of the greatest seasons ever by a Bengals quarterback. He led the NFL with a 98.4 passer rating, threw 29 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions, and was named NFL MVP.
The offense also featured:
- Anthony Muñoz, Cris Collinsworth, Isaac Curtis, Pete Johnson, Dan Ross
The Bengals defeated Buffalo in the divisional playoffs, 28-21.
Anderson’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to rookie Cris Collinsworth broke a 21-21 tie.
That victory was the first playoff win in Bengals history. The Freezer Bowl: The AFC Championship Game was played in Cincinnati against the San Diego Chargers.
The temperature was approximately -9 degrees, with a wind chill around -59 degrees. It became known as the Freezer Bowl. The Bengals won 27-7.
Ken Anderson threw two touchdown passes and the Cincinnati defense dominated the Chargers’ high-powered passing attack. Cincinnati was going to its first Super Bowl. Super Bowl XVI
The Bengals faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI.
Cincinnati eventually lost 26-21. Ken Anderson nevertheless had a tremendous game, throwing for 300 yards and completing 25 passes. The Bengals’ biggest problem was turnovers. Four Cincinnati turnovers helped San Francisco build a 20-0 halftime lead. Cincinnati rallied but came up short.
The 1988 Bengals
Seven years later, Cincinnati returned to the Super Bowl. This time the team was coached by Sam Wyche and quarterbacked by Boomer Esiason. The 1988 Bengals went 12-4. They were an innovative offensive team built around Wyche’s no-huddle offense.
The offense featured:
- Boomer Esiason, Ickey Woods, James Brooks, Cris Collinsworth, Eddie Brown, Rodney Holman, Anthony Muñoz
Nine Bengals made the Pro Bowl, still a franchise record through the team’s published historical records. Boomer Esiason Wins NFL MVP. Esiason had the best season of his career in 1988. He led the league with a 97.4 passer rating and tied for the AFC lead with 28 touchdown passes. He was named NFL MVP. He became the second Bengals quarterback to win the award, following Ken Anderson.
Ickey Woods and the ShuffleOne of the most recognizable Bengals of the 1980s was rookie running back Ickey Woods.
Woods rushed for:
- 1,066 yards
- 15 touchdowns
His 15 rushing touchdowns were a Bengals record at the time. But his biggest contribution to popular culture was his touchdown celebration: The Ickey Shuffle. The dance became one of the most famous touchdown celebrations in NFL history.
Unfortunately, injuries shortened Woods’ career. His rookie season remained his great statistical season. Super Bowl XXIII Cincinnati reached Super Bowl XXIII against San Francisco. The Bengals led late in the game. But Joe Montana led the 49ers on a late touchdown drive, culminating in John Taylor’s touchdown catch with 34 seconds remaining. San Francisco won 20-16. It was the Bengals’ second Super Bowl loss.
The Long Struggle of the 1990s
After the 1988 Super Bowl team began to break apart, Cincinnati entered one of the most difficult periods in franchise history. The Bengals struggled through much of the 1990s and early 2000s. Quarterbacks such as David Klingler and Akili Smith became symbols of the organization’s unsuccessful attempts to replace the great quarterbacks of the previous era.
The team went through several coaching changes.
The arrival of Marvin Lewis in 2003 eventually changed the direction of the franchise. Marvin Lewis Changes the Bengals Marvin Lewis became head coach in 2003. His tenure lasted through the 2017 season, making him by far the longest-serving coach in franchise history. Lewis guided Cincinnati back to the playoffs in 2005, ending a 15-year postseason drought. The Bengals also won multiple AFC North titles during his tenure.
The Lewis era produced stars including:
- Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson, T.J. Houshman, Willie Anderson, Andrew Whitworth, Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap, A.J. Green
Lewis finished with 131 victories, the most in Bengals history.
The Carson Palmer Era
In 2003 the Bengals held the No. 1 overall pick. The selection was USC quarterback Carson Palmer, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. The choice was made unanimously by the Bengals’ scouts and coaches, according to team president Mike Brown. Palmer did not play during his rookie season, learning behind Jon Kitna. He became the starter in 2004 and eventually established numerous Bengals passing records. Palmer’s career in Cincinnati was interrupted by a serious knee injury in the 2005 playoffs and later became complicated by injuries and organizational tensions. Still, calling Palmer a failure would be misleading. He was a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback with Cincinnati and one of the most productive passers in franchise history. The Bengals and Heisman Trophy Winners
The Bengals have drafted three Heisman Trophy winners.
That is an unusual accomplishment. 1. Archie Griffin — 1976
Griffin is the only player to win the Heisman Trophy twice. Cincinnati selected the Ohio State running back with the 24th overall pick in 1976. Why did Griffin fail to become a superstar? The better answer is that he didn’t really fail. He played seven seasons for Cincinnati and helped the Bengals reach Super Bowl XVI. However, his NFL career never approached the legendary level of his Ohio State career. The Bengals already had a strong running game and Griffin never became the dominant NFL runner that his two Heisman awards might have suggested. Bengals result: Solid player, but not a superstar. Carson Palmer– 2002 Heisman Trophy at USC. The Bengals made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2003. The selection came after a difficult period in franchise history, and Cincinnati desperately needed a franchise quarterback. The organization viewed Palmer as the player who could change the team’s fortunes. Palmer eventually became a very good NFL quarterback. He passed for more than 22,000 yards with Cincinnati and led the Bengals to the playoffs. His problem was not an inability to play. Instead, injuries — particularly his 2005 knee injury — and the instability surrounding the franchise limited what might have become an even greater Bengals career. Bengals result: Successful quarterback, but not the championship-level career the franchise hoped for.
3. Joe Burrow — 2020
The third Heisman winner was also the most dramatic selection. Burrow won the 2019 Heisman after leading LSU to a perfect season and national championship. Cincinnati owned the No. 1 pick. There was speculation that the Bengals might trade the pick, but they ultimately selected Burrow. The Bengals’ own history describes Burrow as joining Griffin and Palmer as the franchise’s three Heisman Trophy winners. Unlike Griffin and Palmer, Burrow immediately became the centerpiece of a new Bengals era. He led Cincinnati to:
- The 2021 AFC Championship
- Super Bowl LVI
- The 2022 AFC Championship Game
- Multiple Pro Bowls
- Two NFL Comeback Player of the Year awards
As of 2026, the Bengals’ own biography lists Burrow with three Pro Bowl selections and franchise records in several major passing categories.
Bengals result: Not a failed pick; he has become one of the most important quarterbacks in franchise history.
Major Award Winners as Bengals
The Bengals have produced numerous winners of major NFL awards.
| Award | Bengals winner | Year |
|---|---|---|
| AFL Offensive Rookie of Year | Paul Robinson | 1968 |
| AFL Offensive Rookie of Year | Greg Cook | 1969 |
| AFL Defensive Rookie of Year | Bill Bergey | 1969 |
| AFL/NFL Coach of Year | Paul Brown | 1969/1970 |
| NFL MVP | Ken Anderson | 1981 |
| NFL MVP | Boomer Esiason | 1988 |
| NFL Offensive Rookie of Year | Carl Pickens | 1992 |
| NFL Comeback Player of Year | Jon Kitna | 2003 |
| NFL Comeback Player of Year | Joe Burrow | 2021 |
| NFL Offensive Rookie of Year | Ja’Marr Chase | 2021 |
| NFL Comeback Player of Year | Joe Burrow | 2024 |
The Bengals also have numerous Pro Bowlers, All-Pros and recipients of other league and professional football awards.
The franchise’s history records Greg Cook’s 1969 Offensive Rookie of the Year award and Bill Bergey’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honor in the same season.
Chase’s 2021 rookie season was one of the greatest by a rookie receiver, producing 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns and earning him AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Burrow won Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 and again in 2024, becoming the first player to win the AP award twice with the same team. The Bengals’ NFL MVP Winners
The Bengals have had two MVP
Ken Anderson — 1981
Anderson led Cincinnati to a 12-4 record and its first Super Bowl. His 98.4 passer rating led the NFL. He threw 29 touchdowns against only 10 interceptions. Anderson was the consensus NFL MVP.
Boomer Esiason — 1988
Seven years later, Esiason became the second Bengals quarterback to win the award.
He led Cincinnati to a 12-4 record and another Super Bowl appearance.
His 97.4 passer rating,
The Bengals’ Best Drafts
1969 — Greg Cook, Bill Bergey and Ken Riley
This draft produced one of the greatest “what if?” players in franchise history in Greg Cook. It also produced Bill Bergey and sixth-round pick Ken Riley, who became one of the greatest defensive backs in Bengals history. Despite Cook’s devastating injury, the draft produced enormous talent.
1980 — Anthony Muñoz
Cincinnati selected USC offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz third overall. The choice became one of the greatest draft selections in franchise history. Muñoz became a Hall of Famer and is widely regarded as one of the greatest offensive tackles ever to play. He made 11 Pro Bowls as a Bengal.
1981 — Cris Collinsworth Cincinnati selected Collinsworth in the second round, 37th overall. The story behind the selection is fascinating. The Bengals had actually considered Collinsworth earlier in the first round but worried that he was too thin. They selected Kansas receiver David Verser instead. When Collinsworth remained available in Round 2, Cincinnati took him. Collinsworth immediately became a star. He caught 67 passes for 1,009 yards as a rookie, becoming the first Bengal with a 1,000-yard receiving season. Verser, meanwhile, caught only 23 passes during four seasons with Cincinnati. It became one of the great draft lessons in franchise history: the Bengals initially passed on Collinsworth because of his size, then got him anyway.
1984 — Boomer Esiason
Cincinnati selected Esiason in the second round. The scouting process was unusually personal. Bengals coaches studied his ability to lead, his toughness and his personality. During a workout, Esiason insisted on throwing outside in cold weather because, as the Bengals noted, “that’s where they play the games.” The Bengals eventually got their quarterback. Esiason became an MVP and Super Bowl quarterback.
2001 — Chad Johnson
Cincinnati selected Chad Johnson in the second round. Johnson became the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards and touchdowns. He finished his Bengals career with:
- 10,783 receiving yards
- 66 touchdowns
- Six Pro Bowls
- Two first-team All-Pro selections
He remains one of the most productive players in franchise history.
2020 — Joe Burrow
The Bengals selected Burrow first overall. He immediately became the face of the franchise. The pick ultimately produced:
- A Super Bowl appearance
- An AFC Championship
- Multiple Pro Bowls
- Two Comeback Player of the Year awards
- Numerous Bengals passing records
2021 — Ja’Marr Chase
Cincinnati selected Chase fifth overall. The decision reunited him with Burrow, his LSU quarterback. That pairing became one of the most productive quarterback-receiver combinations in the NFL. Chase won Offensive Rookie of the Year and later became a centerpiece of the Bengals’ offense.
Most Notable Bengals Coaches Paul Brown. The founder. He established the franchise and created the organizational philosophy that remained influential for decades. He was one of football’s great innovators, introducing systematic film study, classroom instruction, sideline play-calling and other practices that became standard throughout the sport. Forrest Gregg
Gregg coached Cincinnati from 1980-83. His greatest accomplishment was taking the Bengals to their first Super Bowl. He also coached the legendary Freezer Bowl team.
Sam Wyche
Wyche coached Cincinnati from 1984-91. He developed the Bengals’ no-huddle offense into a full-time offensive system. The 1988 Bengals helped push the NFL toward the modern hurry-up passing game.
Marvin Lewis
Lewis coached from 2003-2017.
His 131 victories are the most by a Bengals head coach. He ended Cincinnati’s long postseason drought and produced multiple division champions.
Zac Taylor
Taylor became head coach in 2019.
His most important achievement came in 2021. The Bengals went from rebuilding to AFC champions in one season. Taylor’s team defeated Las Vegas, Tennessee and Kansas City in the playoffs before reaching Super Bowl LVI.
Super Bowl Appearances
The Bengals have appeared in the Super Bowl three times.
Super Bowl XVI — 1982
49ers 26, Bengals 21
Super Bowl XXIII — 1989
49ers 20, Bengals 16
Super Bowl LVI — 2022
Rams 23, Bengals 20
Therefore:
Super Bowls won: 0
Super Bowl appearances: 3
The Bengals’ three Super Bowl losses have all been by relatively narrow margins, with the 1989 and 2022 games decided in the final moments.
Players the Bengals Traded Away Before They Became Stars
The Bengals have had some notable examples of players leaving Cincinnati and becoming important players elsewhere, although this category is not as dramatic as it is for some NFL franchises.
Boomer Esiason
Cincinnati eventually traded Esiason to the New York Jets in 1993. He was already an established star when the trade occurred, so he does not qualify as someone Cincinnati traded away before he became a star. Carson Palmer
Palmer was traded to Oakland in 2011. Again, Palmer was already a star and franchise quarterback before the trade. Corey Dillon
Dillon was traded to New England in 2004 after establishing himself as one of Cincinnati’s best running backs. He subsequently won a Super Bowl with the Patriots. This was therefore a case of the Bengals trading away an established star, not an unknown player who later emerged.
The more accurate conclusion is that Cincinnati’s biggest “traded away before becoming a star” stories are less clear-cut than its draft successes and failures.
The franchise has more often watched established Bengals stars leave than watched unknown players leave and suddenly become superstars elsewhere. Five Most Outstanding Bengals Players
There are many legitimate candidates, but these five represent an especially strong combination of longevity, production, awards and impact. 1. Anthony Muñoz
Muñoz is the offensive-line standard in Bengals history. A Hall of Famer, 11-time Pro Bowler and cornerstone of the great 1980s teams, he is one of the greatest players the franchise has ever produced. 2. Ken Anderson
Anderson spent 16 seasons with Cincinnati. He became the franchise’s first NFL MVP and led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl. He remains one of the most important figures in Bengals history. 3. Boomer Esiason
Esiason won NFL MVP and led Cincinnati to Super Bowl XXIII. He also became one of the most recognizable personalities in Bengals history. 4. Chad Johnson
Johnson is the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. His personality made him one of the most recognizable Bengals ever. On the field, however, his production was the foundation of his legacy. 5. Joe Burrow
Burrow has already established himself among the franchise’s greatest quarterbacks. He led Cincinnati to its first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years and later guided the Bengals back to the AFC Championship Game. He also owns numerous Bengals passing records and has won Comeback Player of the Year twice.
Other players deserving serious consideration
- Isaac Curtis, Ken Riley, Willie Anderson, Cris Collinsworth, Tim Krumrie, Corey Dillion A.J. Green, Ja’Marr Chase, Ickey Woods, David Fulcher The Most Outstanding Play in Bengals History
There are many candidates.
Ken Anderson’s touchdown pass to Cris Collinsworth in the 1981 divisional playoff game helped produce the first playoff victory in franchise history. The dramatic late field goal that sent Cincinnati to the Super Bowl in 2022 is another candidate. But one play stands above the others in terms of sheer drama and statistical significance. The Fumble in the Jungle
January 15, 2023
Cincinnati was playing Baltimore in the AFC Wild Card round. The Bengals led 17-10 when Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley attempted to score on a quarterback sneak. Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard stripped the ball. Hubbard picked it up and ran 98 yards for a touchdown.
It was the longest fumble-return touchdown in NFL postseason history and became known as the “Fumble in the Jungle.” The Bengals won 24-17. The play immediately became one of the most famous moments in franchise history. Bengals.com later described Hubbard as the author of what it called arguably the greatest play in Bengals postseason history.
For a franchise that has spent decades searching for the defining postseason moment, a 98-yard defensive touchdown in front of a roaring Cincinnati crowd is a fitting choice. The Bengals Legacy
The Cincinnati Bengals have experienced almost every kind of NFL era. They began as an expansion AFL franchise under one of football’s greatest innovators. They quickly became a playoff team. They developed Ken Anderson into an MVP. They built two Super Bowl teams in the 1980s. They endured one of the NFL’s longest periods of postseason frustration. They rebuilt around Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson and Marvin Lewis. And then they started another era with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
The Bengals have produced two NFL MVP quarterbacks, three Heisman Trophy winners drafted into the organization, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle, numerous All-Pros and three Super Bowl appearances.
Yet the one accomplishment that has remained elusive is the one Cincinnati fans want most:
A Super Bowl championship.
The franchise has come within a few plays of it three times.
The first time came with Ken Anderson. The second came with Boomer Esiason. The third came with Joe Burrow. And as the Bengals continue into the 2026 season, the next chapter of Cincinnati football is still being written.
From Paul Brown’s original team to the modern “Jungle,” the Bengals remain one of the NFL’s most distinctive franchises — a team whose history has been defined by innovation, star quarterbacks, dramatic playoff moments and a remarkably loyal connection between Cincinnati and its football team.
Who Dey!
Artie Fischal
