Willie Anderson

Bengals legend and four-time Pro Bowl right tackle who anchored the line for over a decade.

Willie Aaron Anderson (born July 11, 1975) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Bengals 10th overall of the 1996 NFL draft. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection, Anderson played his first 12 seasons with the Bengals.

Quick Facts

Position: Offensive tackle
Born: 11 July 1975
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
High school: Vigor (Prichard, Alabama)
College: Auburn (1993–1995)
Draft year: 1996
Draft round: 1
Draft pick: 10

Lore & Background

Anderson was a road-grading run blocker, helping Corey Dillon break two NFL rushing records: Jim Brown’s rookie single-game rushing record and Walter Payton’s single-game rushing record of 275 yards. He also helped Rudi Johnson break the Bengals single-season rushing record that still stands today. He started 116 consecutive games in a row from 1999 to 2007. In 2021, Willie Anderson was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. That following year, he became a member of the Ring of Honor induction class of 2022 for the Bengals, joining Paul Brown, Anthony Muñoz, Ken Anderson, and Ken Riley.

Reader's Guide

Willie Anderson is the current host of the 'Everything Big Willie Show' on YouTube where he tells his NFL Stories along with his guests. He trains offensive linemen from high school to the NFL at the Willie Anderson Lineman Academy.

Did You Know?

The 11 quarterback pressures Anderson allowed in 2006 were the fourth-fewest pressures allowed by an offensive tackle in a season between 2006 and 2019.
He was the first right tackle to be named a first-team All-Pro in three straight seasons since Dan Dierdorf, Ron Yary, and Rayfield Wright all did it in the 1970s.
He was the first right tackle to be named to the Pro Bowl in four straight seasons since Jackie Slater; no right tackle has accomplished those feats since Anderson.
In 2025, Anderson made it to the final seven in Hall of Fame voting, but was not ultimately elected.