The Cincinnati Bengals played their first season in 1968. The brainchild of Browns founder Paul Brown. In a possible insult to Art Modell, or possibly as a homage to the Massillon Tigers, Brown chose the exact shade of orange used by his former team.
Paul Brown was notoriously strict and controlling, which often brought him into conflict with players who wanted a greater say in play-calling. These disputes, combined with Brown’s failure to consult Modell on major personnel decisions, led to his firing as the Browns’ coach in 1963.
The Bengals came into existence when Brown was fired from the team that bore his name by Art Modell. Brown responded by founding the Bengals shortly thereafter.
The Bengals won the AFC championship in 1981, 1988, and 2021. After the first two conference championships, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. The 1990s and the 2000s were a period of great struggle. During that era they were referred to as “The Bungles” because they sucked so bad. A slew of terrible first round picks to numerous to mention here (except for David Klingler who I will mention here) led to them sucking.
Between the 1990 and 1999 seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals had the worst record by a team, with a record of 52-108.
Following the 1990 season, the team went fourteen years without posting a winning record, nor qualifying to play in the NFL playoffs. Mainly because they fired head coach Sam Wyche, who detailed his firing here.
In a 2011 survey, Brown was rated as among the worst team owners in American professional sports – OUCH, but well-deserved.
Cincinnati Bengals Stadium: Riverfront Stadium, then Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati Bengals Logo: A leaping tiger, and it was added to the uniform sleeves. The orange helmet with black tiger stripes that Paul Brown hated continued to be the trademark.
Cincinnati Bengals Colors: Black, orange, and white.
Cincinnati Bengals Mascot: A tiger named Who Dey
How Many Super Bowls Have the Cincinnati Bengals Won?
ZERO
(Originally published 4/29/13) Few people in the history of the universe can lay claim to the amount of NFL experience and historical significance of Sam Wyche. Whether as a quarterback playing for the Bengals and Redskins under legends Paul Brown and George Allen, or being the first assistant coach iconic NFL mind Bill Walsh ever … Read more
Warren Moon threw the prettiest spiral and had a cannon, but Blake’s deep ball was different.
The ball jumped out of his hand, expanded in a mushroom cloud shaped arc, and delivered itself into the hands of his receivers unlike any other quarterback I have ever seen.
Demetrius Ross is in his first season as defensive coordinator for the Omaha Beef, but his football background is extensive.
After a successful career at Boise State as an All-American defensive back, Ross played with the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL before making the transition to indoor football.