Having formed in 1968, the Cincinnati Bengals are one of the shorter-tenured teams in the NFL. Though their run in the league has not been as long as some, they've had their fair share of successful seasons even if they haven't won a title just yet. But 14 postseason appearances, nine division championships and two trips to the Super Bowl are nothing to scoff at.
The past few years have been a struggle. Last season, the team had their worst record since 2002, ending with a 2-14 slate. Things are looking up however because their struggles last year turned into the No 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, which they used on Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Joe Burrow.
But before the “Tiger King” proves he's worthy of the title, he'll have to first see how he matches up with some of the greatest legends in Bengals history.
Here's our list of the Bengals' top five.
5. Chad Johnson
Without any doubt the best wide receiver in Bengals history, Chad Johnson, a/k/a Ochocinco, did not burst into the NFL like most would assume. The 36th pick of the 2001 NFL draft only played 12 games his rookie season and started only three of those games. He finished the season with a mere 28 receptions, 329 receiving yards and only a single touchdown. After that year though, it was off to the races for Johnson.
He played more the following year putting up great numbers and in only his third year, he set a franchise record 1,355 receiving yards on 90 receptions while scoring 10 touchdowns. He would go on to break his own record and was prolific throughout his time in Cincinnati. Johnson led the lead in receiving yards in 2006 and was a Pro Bowler for five straight years from 2003-2007 and was named to the All-Pro First Team three straight years from 2004-2006.
Johnson is part of the prestigious 10,000 receiving yards club and holds the Bengals' franchise records for receptions and receiving yards.
4. Ken Riley
A Bengals lifer, the criminally underrated Ken Riley is Cincinnati's best defensive player in history by far. He holds the franchise record for interceptions, at 65, one more than the next two players on the list combined. But defense wasn't always his bread and butter.
Coming out of Florida A&M, Riley was actually a quarterback. Then-Bengals head coach Paul Brown was the one who decided to convert him into a cornerback. Riley earned the reputation as one of the best defensive backs of his era and although he wasn't rewarded with awards and accolades, his numbers and impact speak for themself.
3. Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius Esiason out of the University of Maryland was selected 38th overall in 1984 as the heir-apparent to another Bengals legend on our list. The 6-foot-5 quarterback had a modest start to his career, playing 10 games with 102 pass attempts, completing 51 with three touchdowns.
Esiason would take over the team in his second season but he would have to wait until 1988 for his first taste of success in the NFL. And the wait was worth it.
The Bengals tied for the best record in the NFL that season and Boomer led them all the way to Super Bowl XXIII, one of only two trips the franchise has made to the big game. Unfortunately, the Bengals had their hearts broken by the Joe Montana-led San Francisco 49ers in probably one of the most thrilling end-of-game drives in the history of the game.
It wasn't a total loss as Esiason earned MVP honors. The 1988 Bengals squad is still recognized as one of the best to never win a title.
2. Ken Anderson
The second quarterback on our list, Ken Anderson has arguably the better resume between the two.
He spent his entire career with the Bengals, playing out all of his 16 seasons in Cincinnati. He led the team to four postseasons and brought them to their first Super Bowl, where they'd suffer the first of their two losses to the 49ers.
Anderson was named the league MVP in 1981, the same year the Bengals had the Super Bowl run. He also led the NFL in passer rating four times. He held the distinction in 1974, 1975, 1981 and again in 1982.
1. Anthony Munoz
The only Hall of Famer in Bengals history, Munoz definitely deserves the top spot.
The former No. 3 draft pick spent 13 season as an offensive lineman for the Bengals. A nine-time First Team All-Pro selection and three time Offensive Lineman of the Year, Munoz is the only player to play in both of the franchise's Super Bowl appearances.
Although he never won a title, he will still go down as not just one of the best in Bengals history, but one of the best of all-time.
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