Cincinnati Bengals

Lore & Background

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown began planning for the creation of the Bengals franchise in 1965, and Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium in 1966. Finally, in 1967, the Bengals were founded when a group headed by Brown received franchise approval by the American Football League (AFL) on May 23, 1967, and they began play in the 1968 season. Brown was the Bengals' head coach from their inception to 1975. After being dismissed as the Browns' head coach by Art Modell in January 1963, Brown had shown interest in establishing another NFL franchise in Ohio and looked at both Cincinnati and Columbus. He ultimately chose the former when a deal between the city, Hamilton County, and Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds was struck that resulted in an agreement to build a multipurpose stadium. Due to the impending merger of the AFL and the NFL, Brown agreed to join the AFL as its 10th and final franchise. The Bengals, like the other former AFL teams, were assigned to the AFC following the merger. After Paul Brown's death in 1991, controlling interest in the team was inherited by his son, Mike Brown. In 2011, Brown purchased shares of the team owned by the estate of co-founder Austin Knowlton and is now the majority owner. The Bengals won the AFC championship in 1981, 1988, and in 2021. After each of the 1981 and 1988 conference championships, they went on to lose to the San Francisco 49ers, in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. The team struggled greatly in the 1990s and the early 2000s. Following the 1990 season, the team went 14 years without making the NFL playoffs or posting a winning record. The turning point for the Bengals was during the 2021 season, when they won their first playoff game in 31 years and advanced to the first of two consecutive AFC Championship games. In 2021, they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime and advanced to Super Bowl LVI, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 23–20. They advanced to the AFC Championship game again in 2022 but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs by a score of 23–20. The team does not have an official general manager. However, Duke Tobin is the Bengals' 'de facto general manager' because he handles most personnel decisions. In a Forbes article on the value of NFL teams as of August 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals were ranked last with a value of $3 bi

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at the Week 17 showdown in Kansas City was defined by a desperate Bengals offense trying to overcome a deficit. The Bengals struck first with a 34-yard field goal by Evan McPherson, but Patrick Mahomes quickly answered with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Pacheco. The game swung back and forth until halftime, where the Bengals held a 17–7 advantage after Browning connected with Mixon for a score and scored on his own sneak. The Chiefs clawed back before the break with two Butker field goals from 54 and 43 yards out. The second half saw Kansas City take total control as Butker kicked four additional field goals to push the final score to 25–17. The drama peaked on Cincinnati's final possession when they converted a massive 4th and 18 at their own 32-yard line. Two sacks by the Chiefs defense pushed them back to the 38-yard line, setting up an impossible 4th and 27 that ended with Browning's incomplete pass to Tee Higgins.

Reader's Guide

The Bengals play their home games at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati. The team's head coach from their inception to 1975 was Paul Brown. The Bengals won AFC championships in 1981, 1988, and 2021. They lost Super Bowls XVI and XXIII to the San Francisco 49ers, and Super Bowl LVI to the Los Angeles Rams. The team's majority owner is Mike Brown.

Did You Know?

• The Bengals were founded in 1967 as the 10th and final franchise of the American Football League.
• Paul Brown named the team the Bengals to give it a link with past professional football in Cincinnati.
• The Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime in the 2021 AFC Championship game.
• The Bengals were ranked last among NFL teams in value by Forbes as of August 2022, with a value of $3 billion.