Cincinnati Bengals facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cincinnati Bengals
Current season
Logo Wordmark Uniforms
Basic info
Established	May 23, 1967; 58 years ago (1967-05-23)
Colors	Black, orange, white
Fight song	The Bengals Growl
Mascot	Who Dey
Personnel
Owner(s)	Mike Brown
President	Mike Brown
General manager	Duke Tobin
Head coach	Zac Taylor
Team history
Cincinnati Bengals (1968–present)
Home fields
Nippert Stadium (1968–1969) Riverfront Stadium (1970–1999) Paycor Stadium (2000–present)
League / conference affiliations
American Football League (1968–1969) AFL West (1968–1969) National Football League (1970–present) American Football Conference (1970–present) AFC Central (1970–2001) AFC North (2002–present)
Championships
League championships: 0
Conference championships: 3 AFC: 1981, 1988, 2021
Division championships: 11 AFC Central: 1970, 1973, 1981, 1988, 1990 AFC North: 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2022
Playoff appearances (16)
NFL: 1970, 1973, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1990, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022
Owner(s)
Paul Brown (1967–1991) Mike Brown (1991–present)

The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team from Cincinnati, Ohio. They play in the National Football League (NFL) as part of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Their home games are played at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.

The Bengals team was started by former Cleveland Browns coach Paul Brown. He began planning the team in 1965. In 1967, the Bengals officially became a team in the American Football League (AFL). They started playing in the 1968 season. Paul Brown was their head coach until 1975.

Cincinnati was chosen as the team's home because it could attract fans from many nearby cities. These included Louisville, Lexington, Columbus, Dayton, and Springfield.

After Paul Brown passed away in 1991, his son, Mike Brown, took over the team.

The Bengals have won the AFC championship three times: in 1981, 1988, and 2021. After their 1981 and 1988 wins, they went to the Super Bowl but lost to the San Francisco 49ers both times. The team had a tough time in the 1990s and early 2000s. They didn't make the NFL playoffs or have a winning record for 14 years after 1990.

Things started to get better for the team in the mid-2000s. A big change happened in the 2021 season. They won their first playoff game in 31 years! They beat the Kansas City Chiefs and made it to Super Bowl LVI, their first Super Bowl in 33 years. They lost a close game to the Los Angeles Rams. In 2022, they reached the AFC Championship game again but lost to the Chiefs.

The team doesn't have an official general manager. However, Duke Tobin makes most of the player decisions.

Team History

Starting the Team (1968–Present)

Bob Trumpy, a Bengals tight end from 1968 to 1977.

Bob Johnson, a Bengals center from 1968 to 1979.

In 1967, Paul Brown started the Cincinnati Bengals team in the American Football League. He named the team the Bengals to connect it to an older Cincinnati Bengals team from 1937 to 1942. The famous Cincinnati Zoo also had a rare white Bengal tiger.

Paul Brown chose the same shade of orange as his old team, the Cleveland Browns. He added black as a second color. The first logo was simply the word "BENGALS" in black letters. The Bengals started playing in the 1968 season.

In 1966, the AFL decided to merge with the National Football League. This meant the AFL could add one more team. The NFL wanted an even number of teams after the merger. The AFL charged a lot of money for this new team, which helped them pay fees for the merger.

Paul Brown didn't really want to join the AFL at first. He thought it was not as good as the NFL. But when he learned the new team would join the NFL after the merger in 1970, he agreed.

There was also a need for a new stadium in Cincinnati. The Major League Baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds, needed a new home. So, Hamilton County and the Cincinnati city council agreed to build a stadium called Riverfront Stadium. It could host both baseball and football games. It was ready by the 1970 NFL season.

When the merger happened in 1970, the Cleveland Browns moved to the AFC Central division, the same as the Bengals. This created an instant rivalry, partly because of Paul Brown's history with the Browns.

Early Years (1968–1978)

For their first two seasons, the Bengals played at Nippert Stadium. The team finished its first season with a 3–11 record. Running back Paul Robinson rushed for over 1,000 yards and was named the AFL Rookie of the Year.

Paul Brown coached the team for its first eight seasons. He liked to draft players from smaller colleges. This led many former players to have successful careers in broadcasting and other fields.

In 1970, the Bengals moved to Riverfront Stadium, where they played until 2000. Important players from the 1970s included Virgil Carter, Chip Meyers, Bob Trumpy, and Lemar Parrish. The team made the playoffs three times in the 1970s but didn't win any playoff games. In 1975, they had their best winning record ever (11–3). However, they lost to the Oakland Raiders in the playoffs.

Super Bowl Appearances (1980–1991)

The Bengals played against the 49ers in Super Bowl XVI and XXIII, losing both times.

The Bengals reached the Super Bowl twice in the 1980s: Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII. Both times, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers. The team also made the playoffs in 1990, reaching the second round.

Before the 1991 season, Paul Brown passed away at age 82. His son, Mike Brown, took over the team. After this, the Bengals had a tough time, with 14 seasons in a row without a winning record.

Marvin Lewis Era (2003–2018)

The Bengals started to get better when Marvin Lewis became head coach in 2003. They drafted future star quarterback Carson Palmer in 2003. In 2005, the team made the playoffs for the first time since 1990. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round.

Chad Johnson, a Bengals wide receiver from 2001 to 2010.

The Bengals returned to the playoffs in 2009. Marvin Lewis won the NFL Coach of the Year Award that season. After the 2010 season, quarterback Carson Palmer asked to be traded. The Bengals then drafted wide receiver A. J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton in 2011.

The team improved in 2011 and made the playoffs again. They also made the playoffs in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. This was the first time the team made the playoffs four seasons in a row. However, they kept losing in the first round of the playoffs. In 2015, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a very close game.

After a tough 2016 season, the Bengals missed the playoffs. In 2018, the team started well with a 4–1 record. But injuries to key players like A. J. Green and Andy Dalton hurt the team. The Bengals finished 6–10. On December 31, 2018, Marvin Lewis and the Bengals decided to part ways.

Zac Taylor Era (2019–Present)

Joe Burrow, the Bengals quarterback since 2020.

In 2019, Zac Taylor became the new head coach. The team had a very difficult season, finishing with a 2–14 record. This earned them the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

In 2020, the Bengals drafted quarterback Joe Burrow. The team showed improvement with Burrow and rookie receiver Tee Higgins. However, Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11. The team finished 4–11–1.

In 2021, the Bengals had an amazing season. They won the AFC North division with a 10–7 record. Joe Burrow, playing his first full season, and rookie receiver Ja'Marr Chase led the team. They won their first playoff game since 1990 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Then, they upset the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs to reach Super Bowl LVI. They lost a very close Super Bowl to the Los Angeles Rams.

In the 2022 NFL season, the Bengals started 4–4 but then won 8 games in a row. They beat the Baltimore Ravens and the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. This led them to their second straight AFC Championship game, a first for the team. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs again in a close game.

In the 2023 season, Joe Burrow got a wrist injury that ended his season early. Backup quarterback Jake Browning played well, but the Bengals finished 9–8 and missed the playoffs.

Team Look and Uniforms

Cincinnati's uniform design from 1968 to 1980.

When the Bengals started in 1968, their uniforms looked like the Cleveland Browns' uniforms. Paul Brown used equipment from his old team. The Browns' colors were brown, orange, and white. Their helmets were solid orange.

The Bengals' colors were orange, black, and white. Their helmets were orange with the word "Bengals" in black letters. They didn't have numbers on their sleeves until 1980. In 1981, they changed their uniforms to include orange and black tiger stripes. They also introduced the orange helmets with black tiger stripes that they still use today.

Bengals uniforms used from 2004 to 2020.

In 1997, the Bengals added a leaping tiger logo to their uniform sleeves. In 2004, they updated their tiger stripe pattern and added more accents. The black jerseys got orange tiger-striped sleeves. They also added a new orange "B" logo with tiger stripes. The team started wearing black pants and an alternate orange jersey. Since 2005, the Bengals sometimes wear white jerseys at home in September due to hot weather.

In 2016, the Bengals showed off their all-white "Color Rush" uniform. It had black tiger stripes on the sleeves and pants.

On January 21, 2021, the team announced new uniform designs. They kept the striped helmet but made the rest of the uniform simpler. The new design removed side panels and changed the sleeve stripes. The team's name is now on the chest. They also changed the shade of orange slightly. The Bengals now have black pants with orange stripes, white pants with black stripes, and white pants with orange stripes.

In 2022, the NFL allowed teams to use a second helmet. The Bengals then showed an alternate white helmet with black stripes. In 2024, the Bengals added orange pants to their uniform options.

Team Mascots

The Bengals' official mascot is a Bengal tiger named Who Dey. His jersey number is 1. The team also has a cheerleading squad called the Ben-Gals.

In 2012, fans at the Cincinnati Zoo named a Malayan tiger cub "Who Dey."

Team Rivalries

Division Rivals

Cleveland Browns

The Bengals have a long-standing rivalry with the Cleveland Browns, often called the "Battle of Ohio." This started because Paul Brown left the Browns to create the Bengals. Both teams use similar orange colors because Paul Brown chose the same shade for the Bengals. The Bengals lead this series with 53 wins and 48 losses as of the end of the 2023 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have played each other twice a year since 1970. This rivalry has become very intense since the 2000s. They have met in the playoffs twice, with both games being very physical. The Steelers lead the overall series 70–39.

Baltimore Ravens

The Bengals' rivalry with the Baltimore Ravens began when the original Browns team moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. The rivalry grew stronger when former Ravens coach Marvin Lewis became the Bengals' head coach. The Ravens lead the all-time series 30–27. The Bengals won their only playoff meeting in 2022.

Conference Rivals

Kansas City Chiefs

The Bengals, led by Joe Burrow, have a new rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs. Joe Burrow is the only AFC quarterback with a winning record against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. As of 2023, the Bengals lead the all-time series 18–16.

Tennessee Titans

The Bengals have played the Titans more than any other team outside their division. The Titans lead the all-time series 41–37–1.

NFL Contributions

No-Huddle Offense

The "no-huddle offense" is when a team quickly starts the next play without waiting. In 1988, Bengals head coach Sam Wyche and offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet made this a regular part of their game. By playing fast, the Bengals made it hard for the other team's defense to substitute players or rest. The NFL later made rules to allow defenses more time to substitute when the offense does.

West Coast Offense

The "West Coast offense" is a passing style of play. It was created by former Bengals assistant coach Bill Walsh. He developed this system while working for Paul Brown from 1968 to 1975. Bengals quarterback Virgil Carter was the first to use it well in 1971. Ken Anderson took over in 1972 and made the offense famous. In 1975, Anderson's great passing game showed how exciting this new style of football could be.

Zone Blitz

The "zone blitz" is a defensive play created by former Bengals defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in the 1980s. It was designed to counter the West Coast offense.

Season Records

Players

Current Roster

Retired Numbers

Some numbers are not officially retired but are rarely used:

• 13 has only been worn once since Ken Riley retired.
• 14 has not been worn since Andy Dalton left in 2019. This number was also worn by Ken Anderson, one of the best Bengals quarterbacks.
• 78 has not been worn since Anthony Muñoz retired.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Members

Four players who spent time with the Bengals are in the Hall of Fame. Anthony Muñoz and Ken Riley played their entire careers with the Bengals. Paul Brown, the team's founder, is also in the Hall of Fame, but he was inducted before starting the Bengals.

Charlie Joiner (left), Anthony Muñoz (center), Terrell Owens (center), and Ken Riley (right) are the only Hall of Fame members who played for the Bengals.

Individual Awards

40th Anniversary Team

In 2007, fans voted for an all-time team to celebrate the Bengals' 40th anniversary.

50th Anniversary Team

Source:

Ring of Honor

The Bengals started a Ring of Honor in 2021 to celebrate important people in their history. The first members were Anthony Muñoz and Paul Brown. Later, Ken Anderson and Ken Riley were added after fans voted for them.

*Posthumous induction

Coaching Staff

Head Coaches

Current Staff

Radio and TV

The Bengals' games are broadcast on radio stations WCKY (1530) and WEBN (102.7 FM). Sometimes, WLW (700) also airs games if there's no conflict with the Cincinnati Reds. Most preseason and regular season games are shown on WKRC-TV, channel 12, which is the CBS station. Games against NFC teams at Paycor Stadium are on WXIX, channel 19, the local Fox station. WLWT-TV shows games when the Bengals play on Sunday Night Football.

The radio announcers are Dan Hoard (play-by-play) and Dave Lapham (analyst).

Team Culture

Fight Song

"The Bengal Growl" is the Bengals' fight song. It was written in 1968 when the team started. It's very popular with Bengals fans. Another popular song for the Bengals is "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns N' Roses. It's often played before games to get the crowd excited.

Who Dey Chant

Bengals Cheerleaders leading a cheer.

"Who Dey?!" is a famous chant used by Cincinnati Bengals fans since the 1980s. The full chant is: "Who dey, who dey, who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals?" And the answer is, "Nobody!" Sometimes, fans just shout "Who Dey?" The team's mascot, a Bengal tiger, is also named Who Dey.

The chant might have come from beer vendors at the old Riverfront Stadium. They would call out "Hudy" (a local beer brand), and fans would chant back. The full chant was first known to be used by fans in 1980. It might have been inspired by a local car commercial that said, "Who's going to give you a better deal than Red Frazier?...Nobody!"

The "Who Dey" chant is similar to the "Who Dat?" chant used by the New Orleans Saints. That chant has a long history in Louisiana high schools and colleges.

See also

In Spanish: Cincinnati Bengals para niños

• List of Cincinnati Bengals seasons
• List of NFL team records
• Sports in Ohio
• Sports in Cincinnati