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The History Of The Cincinnati Bengals

The history of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals goes all the way back to 1937 ­ sort of. Even though the Bengals as we know them got on the field in 1968, they took their name from the city’s previous pro football occupant that played in three different American football leagues from 1937 ­ 1941. The ownership group that established the modern Bengals in 1967 wanted to honor Cincinnati’s football past and also nod to the most famous inhabitant of the city’s zoo: a rare white Bengal tiger.

The Browns and the Beginning

The history of the Bengals is inextricably linked to that of the rival Cleveland Browns. The 1967 group that established the Bengals was lead by longtime Browns president, GM and head coach Paul Brown. Brown was ousted from the team that bore his name by new owner Art Modell in 1963. Brown founded the Bengals four years later and even designed their uniforms to look much like Cleveland’s! A rivalry was born and it continues today.

AFL, NFL and Riverfront Stadium

The Bengals began play in 1968 in the AFL despite Brown’s desire not to join the fledgling league. He only acquiesced to play in the “minor leagues” when assured his team would become an NFL franchise after the 1970 merger with the NFL. Everything came together in 1970 as the new Riverfront Stadium was completed and the merger was finished. The Bengals moved to a new stadium and a new division ­ the AFC North, opposite the hated Browns ­ that year. They had their first winning season in their new home, going 8-6 and earning a playoff berth.

The Paul Brown Years

Paul Brown coached his own team for the franchise’s first eight seasons. The team had four winning seasons during Brown’s tenure, though they couldn’t muster a playoff win in three visits to the postseason. Brown retired from coaching in 1975, but continued in the team’s front office until his death in 1990.

Two Super Bowls and a Collapse

The Bengals had off-and-on success after Brown’s retirement and finally broke through their playoff problems in 1982, getting all the way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Cincinnati was thwarted in a close game, 26-21, by the Joe Montana-led San Francisco 49ers. After mostly losing seasons, the Bengals fought back to the big game in 1989 only to be downed once again by the powerhouse 49ers. Cincinnati made a quick postseason exit in 1990, the year of their founder’s death, and then fell apart, going 14 straight seasons without a winning record.

Paul Brown Stadium, Lewis, Palmer and the Return to Prominence

In 2000, the Bengals moved to the new, publicly-funded Paul Brown stadium, with owner Mike Brown bucking the “sell the naming rights” trend in order to honor his father. 2003 was a turning point year for the troubled franchise. The team hired coach Marvin Lewis from the Baltimore Ravens, drafted future superstar QB Carson Palmer and finally posted at least a non-losing record, 8-8. The Bengals returned to the playoffs two years later, after an impressive season sweep of their division rivals, including the strong Steelers and Ravens. The Bengals have been in the playoff hunt in all but two seasons under Lewis, and look to stay a dangerous competitor in the near future.