Who Dey

The Bengals' rallying cry, "Who Dey," is a staple of their fan culture, distinct from other NFL franchises.

The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its home games at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati. The Bengals were founded in 1967 when a group headed by Paul 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. The Bengals won the AFC championship in 1981, 1988, and in the 2021 season (with the championship game played in January 2022), advancing to Super Bowls XVI, XXIII, and LVI, losing each time. The team does not have an official general manager; Duke Tobin is the Bengals' "de facto general manager" because he handles most personnel decisions.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
Stadium location: Paycor Stadium, downtown Cincinnati
Founding year: 1967
Key era reference: AFC championships in 1981, 1988, and the 2021 season (game played in January 2022)

Lore & Background

The Bengals' identity is deeply tied to their founder, Paul Brown, who named the team the Bengals "to give it a link with past professional football in Cincinnati." Another Cincinnati Bengals team had existed in the city and played in three previous American Football Leagues from 1937 to 1942. Brown chose the exact shade of orange used by his former team, the Cleveland Browns, and added black as the secondary color. The team's fortunes improved in the mid-2000s and into the mid-2010s, but the turning point came during the 2021 season, when they won their first playoff game in 31 years and advanced to the AFC Championship game. In that season's AFC Championship (played in January 2022), they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime and advanced to Super Bowl LVI, their first appearance in the Super Bowl in 33 years, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 23–20.

Reader's Guide

To experience true Bengals culture, you must understand the team's history and traditions. The Bengals' rallying cry, "Who Dey," is a central part of game-day atmosphere, uniting fans in a chant that has become synonymous with the franchise. The team's colors are orange and black, chosen by Paul Brown. The Bengals began play in the 1968 season, and their first home was Nippert Stadium before moving to Riverfront Stadium in 1970. Key eras include the 1980s, when the team reached Super Bowls XVI and XXIII, and the 2021 season, when they won the AFC championship and advanced to Super Bowl LVI. The team does not have an official general manager; Duke Tobin handles most personnel decisions as the "de facto general manager."