History of Cincinnati Bengals in Timeline

The Cincinnati Bengals are an NFL team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They compete in the AFC North division and play their home games at Paycor Stadium. Founded in 1966, the Bengals have reached the Super Bowl three times, most recently in Super Bowl LVI in 2022. Key figures in Bengals history include players such as quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, and coaches like Paul Brown, the team's founder.

1912: Reds Use Crosley Field

Since 1912, Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds had used Crosley Field.

1937: Previous Bengals Team

From 1937 to 1942, another Cincinnati Bengals team existed and played in previous American Football Leagues.

1940: Cincinnati Bengals Joined Third American Football League

In 1940, the Cincinnati Bengals joined the third American Football League.

1941: AFL Ceases Playing Due To World War II

In 1941, The American Football League ceased playing after the 1941 season because World War II began the following year, causing manpower shortages.

1942: Previous Bengals Team

From 1937 to 1942, another Cincinnati Bengals team existed and played in previous American Football Leagues.

1946: George "Red" Bird served as the Browns' music and entertainment director

In 1946, George "Red" Bird served as the Cleveland Browns' music and entertainment director.

1957: New York Loses NL Teams

In 1957, New York City lost both its National League teams after the Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles, and the Giants relocated to San Francisco.

1960: Founding of the AFL

In 1960, the original eight owners founded the American Football League, paying $25,000 each.

1961: Art Modell Purchases Browns

In 1961, Art Modell purchased a majority interest in the Cleveland Browns.

January 1963: Paul Brown Dismissed by Browns

In January 1963, Art Modell, who had purchased a majority interest in the team in 1961, dismissed Paul Brown as the Browns' head coach.

1964: NFL Allows Home Team Choice of Jersey Color

The NFL allowed the home team choice of jersey color starting in 1964.

1965: Paul Brown Plans Bengals Franchise

In 1965, former Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown began planning for the creation of the Bengals franchise.

1966: Riverfront Stadium Approved

In 1966, Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium.

1966: AFL and NFL Agree to Merger

In 1966, the American Football League agreed to a merger with the National Football League.

May 23, 1967: Bengals Franchise Approval

On May 23, 1967, a group led by Paul Brown received franchise approval by the American Football League (AFL) to found the Cincinnati Bengals.

1967: Bengals Franchise Granted

In 1967, an ownership group led by Paul Brown was granted a franchise in the American Football League, naming the team the Bengals.

1968: "The Bengal Growl" written

In 1968, "The Bengal Growl", the Bengals fight song, was written by Bengals entertainment director George "Red" Bird upon the team's founding.

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1968: Bill Walsh begins tenure as Bengals assistant coach

In 1968, Bill Walsh began his tenure as assistant coach for the Cincinnati Bengals.

1968: Bengals Begin Play

In 1968, the Bengals began play.

1968: Inaugural Season

In 1968, the Bengals played their inaugural season at Nippert Stadium and finished with a 3–11 record. Paul Robinson was named AFL Rookie of the Year.

1968: Bengals Uniform Modeled After Browns

In 1968, the Bengals' uniforms were initially modeled after the Cleveland Browns, due to Paul Brown's ownership of Cleveland's equipment after being fired.

1970: Riverfront Stadium Ready

By the opening of the 1970 NFL season, Riverfront Stadium was ready.

1970: Bengals Wear White at Home for Entire Season

During the 1970 season, the Bengals wore white at home for the entire season.

1970: Bengals and Steelers Became Division Rivals

In 1970, the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers became division rivals and have played each other twice a year since then.

1970: National Football League

In 1970, the Cincinnati Bengals joined the National Football League (NFL).

1970: Move to Riverfront Stadium

In 1970, the Cincinnati Bengals moved to play at Riverfront Stadium.

1970: AFL and NFL Merger

In 1970, the merger of the AFL and the NFL took full effect, and the Bengals were assigned to the AFC.

1970: Browns Move to AFC

With the completion of the merger in 1970, the Cleveland Browns were one of three NFL teams that agreed to move to the AFL-based American Football Conference and were placed in the AFC Central, the same division as the Bengals.

1970: Merger Completed

With the merger completed in 1970, Brown realized that the AFL expansion franchise would likely be his only realistic path back into the NFL and ultimately acquiesced to joining the AFL.

1971: Bengals Wear White at Home for Most of Season

During most of the 1971 season, the Bengals wore white at home.

1971: Virgil Carter Leads NFL in Pass Completion Percentage

In 1971, Bengals quarterback Virgil Carter led the NFL in pass completion percentage while implementing Bill Walsh's system.

1972: Ken Anderson Replaced Carter As Cincinnati's Starting Quarterback

In 1972, Ken Anderson replaced Virgil Carter as Cincinnati's starting quarterback and was even more successful.

1975: Ken Anderson Shines in Nationally Televised Game

In 1975, Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson's performance in a nationally televised Monday night game against the Buffalo Bills brought widespread recognition to the West Coast offense.

1975: Paul Brown Ends Tenure as Head Coach

In 1975, Paul Brown's tenure as the Bengals' head coach concluded, a role he had held since the team's inception.

1975: Playoff Loss to Raiders

In 1975, the Bengals posted an 11–3 record, but lost to the Oakland Raiders 31–28 in the divisional playoffs.

1978: Hudepohl Brewing Company Introduced Hudy Beer

In 1978, the Hudepohl Brewing Company's leading product, Hudy beer, bore a phonetic similarity to the "Who Dey" chant.

1980: The banter with the Hudepohl vendors grew organically into the now famous (Hu-Dey) -Who They?- chant.

During the 1980 season, banter between fans and beer vendors carrying Hudepohl beer organically grew into the famous "Who Dey" chant at Riverfront Stadium.

1980: Bengals Defeated Steelers

In 1980, the Bengals defeated the Steelers during both of their meetings.

1980: Addition of TV Numbers and Change of Face Mask Color

In 1980, the Cincinnati Bengals added secondary uniform numbers on the sleeves, becoming the last NFL team to do so. That same year, the team changed the helmet face mask color from gray to black.

1980: Full Who Dey chant Used

The full Who Dey chant was first known to be used by fans of the 1980 Cincinnati Bengals.

1981: Ken Anderson named NFL MVP

In 1981, Ken Anderson was named NFL MVP.

1981: Introduction of Tiger Stripe Uniforms

In 1981, the Bengals introduced a new uniform design featuring tiger stripes, orange helmets with black tiger stripes, and black and white jerseys trimmed with orange and black tiger stripes. Sports Illustrated likened the new helmets to "varicose pumpkins."

1981: Helmet Design Adopted

In 1981, the Cincinnati Bengals adopted a striped motif helmet design, which is still in use today.

1981: AFC Championship Win

In 1981, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC Championship, proceeding to Super Bowl XVI where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

1982: Ken Anderson Set Completion Percentage Record

In 1982, Ken Anderson set the record for completion percentage in a single season with 70.66%.

1982: Playoffs Since 1982

In the 2012 season, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched a playoff spot once more with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, going to the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 1982.

1983: "Who Dat?" adopted by New Orleans Saints

In 1983, the phrase "Who Dat?" was officially adopted by the New Orleans Saints, but had been used by Louisiana's high school team fans for some time.

1984: Bengals First Used the "No-Huddle"

In 1984, the Bengals first used the "no-huddle" offense.

1984: Colts Relocate

Prior to the 1984 NFL season, the Baltimore Colts relocated to Indianapolis.

1988: Sam Wyche implements the no-huddle offense

In 1988, Bengals head coach Sam Wyche made the high-paced, no-huddle offense the standard strategy for the team, leading to NFL rules changes regarding defensive substitutions. The Bengals beat the Bills three times in 1988 (pre-season, regular season, and the AFC Championship Game). Marv Levy threatened to fake injuries if the Bengals used the "no-huddle" in the AFC Championship.

1988: Second AFC Championship

In 1988, the Cincinnati Bengals won their second AFC championship and subsequently lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII.

1989: Super Bowl Appearance

In 2021, the Bengals advanced to their first Super Bowl since 1989 when McPherson kicked a 33-yard field goal in overtime to cap off a comeback from being down 21–3 and shock the No. 2 seed Chiefs, 27–24.

1989: Bills Install Version of No-Huddle Offense

Starting with the 1989 season, Marv Levy, coach of the Buffalo Bills, installed his own version of the no-huddle offense.

1990: Playoff Drought Begins

Following the 1990 season, the Cincinnati Bengals began a 14-year drought without making the NFL playoffs or posting a winning record.

1990: Playoff Appearance

In 1990, the Cincinnati Bengals appeared in the playoffs, making it to the second round before losing to the Los Angeles Raiders.

1990: First Playoff Win Since 1990

In 2021, the Bengals won their first playoff game since the 1990 season, beating the Las Vegas Raiders, 26–19, in the Wild Card round.

1991: Mike Brown Inherits Team

In 1991, following Paul Brown's death, his son, Mike Brown, inherited controlling interest in the Cincinnati Bengals.

1997: Logo Design and Placement

In 1997, the Bengals designed a logo consisting of a leaping tiger, which was added to the uniform sleeves. This change led to the TV numbers moving to the shoulder of the uniform.

2000: Dick LeBeau Served as Bengals Head Coach

From 2000 to 2002, Dick LeBeau served as the Cincinnati Bengals' head coach.

2000: Move to Paul Brown Stadium

In 2000, the Cincinnati Bengals moved to Paul Brown Stadium.

2002: Dick LeBeau Served as Bengals Head Coach

Dick LeBeau served as the Cincinnati Bengals' head coach until 2002.

2002: Worst Record in Team History

The Bengals finished the 2019 season with a 2-14 record, equaling the 2002 season as the team's worst record in history.

2003: Marvin Lewis Hired

In 2003, Marvin Lewis was hired as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Carson Palmer was drafted but did not play.

2004: Uniform Redesign with New Logo

In 2004, the Bengals redesigned their uniforms with a new tiger stripe pattern and more accents. A new logo featuring an orange 'B' covered with black tiger stripes was introduced. An alternate orange jersey was also debuted, and the team started rotating black pants.

2004: Season Record

In 2004, the Cincinnati Bengals finished with an 8–8 record.

2004: Steelers Dominance Since Roethlisberger Drafting

Since 2004, when the Steelers drafted Roethlisberger, they have posted a record of 28-7 against the Bengals.

2005: Steelers defeated Bengals in Wild Card round marked by Carson Palmer injury

In the 2005 playoffs Wild Card round, the Steelers defeated the Bengals, with Steelers defensive tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen injuring Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer.

2005: Playoff Loss to Steelers

In the 2005 season, the Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1990 but lost in the Wild Card Round to the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–17.

2005: White Jerseys for September Home Games

Since 2005, the Bengals have worn white jerseys for September home games to combat the heat.

2007: Bengals Named All-Time Team for 40th Anniversary

In 2007, the Cincinnati Bengals named an all-time team voted on by the fans, in celebration of their 40th anniversary.

2009: Division Sweep and Coach of the Year Award

In 2009, the Bengals returned to the playoffs again in a season that included the franchise's first-ever division sweep, resulting in Marvin Lewis being awarded the NFL Coach of the Year Award.

2010: Palmer Demands Trade

Following the disappointing 2010 season, quarterback Carson Palmer demanded to be traded from the Bengals.

2010: Playoff drought ends for Andy Dalton

In 2016 the Bengals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010, marking the first time Andy Dalton missed the playoffs as the Bengals' starting quarterback.

2010: Season Record

In the 2010 season, the Bengals posted a 4–12 record.

2011: Mike Brown Becomes Majority Owner

In 2011, Mike Brown became the majority owner of the Bengals franchise after purchasing shares of the team owned by the estate of co-founder Austin Knowlton.

2011: Brown Rated Among Worst Owners

In a 2011 survey, Mike Brown was rated as among the worst team owners in American professional sports.

2011: Draft Picks

In the 2011 NFL draft, the Bengals selected wide receiver A. J. Green in the first round and quarterback Andy Dalton in the second round.

2011: Improved Season and Playoff Berth

In the 2011 season, the Bengals improved to 9–7 and clinched a playoff spot but lost to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.

2012: Bengals season ticket holders named Malayan tiger 'Who Dey'

In 2012, Bengals season ticket holders at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden named a Malayan tiger 'Who Dey'.

2012: Consecutive Playoff Berth

In the 2012 season, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched a playoff spot once more with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, going to the playoffs in back-to-back years.

2013: Playoff Berth and AFC North Win

In 2013, the Bengals clinched a playoff berth for the third straight year and won the AFC North with an 11–5 record. However, they were defeated in the wild card round by the San Diego Chargers, 27–10. Andy Dalton received much of the blame, and this loss marked the Bengals' 0–5 record in playoff games under Mike Brown's ownership.

2014: Playoff Loss to Colts

The 2014 season saw the Bengals start strong, winning their first three games. However, they finished with a 10-5-1 record and lost to the Colts, 26-10, in the first round of the playoffs. Despite the loss, this marked the first time the Bengals made the playoffs for four consecutive seasons.

2015: Elizabeth Blackburn stops at a Bengals backer bar.

During the 2015 playoffs, Elizabeth Blackburn stopped at a Bengals backer bar in San Francisco and was surprised to hear the viewers break out into "The Bengal Growl" song.

2015: Carol Motsinger speaks about the Bengal's Tiger Who Dey

In 2015, Carol Motsinger mentioned that in 2012, the Cincinnati Bengals welcomed a Malayan tiger named Who Dey, named by season ticket holders at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The tiger was later traded to a zoo in Kansas.

2015: Dalton Injury and Wild Card Loss

In 2015, the Bengals achieved a franchise-best 8-0 start but lost quarterback Andy Dalton to injury in Week 14. They finished 12-4 but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 18-16, in the Wild Card round. This defeat made them the first franchise in NFL history to lose five straight opening-round playoff games.

2015: AFC North Title Win

In 2021, the Bengals won the AFC North for the first time since 2015, with a 10-7 record.

2015: Steelers defeated Bengals in Wild Card round after Jeremy Hill fumble

In the 2015 playoffs Wild Card round, the Steelers defeated the Bengals after Bengals running back Jeremy Hill fumbled the ball in the waning minutes, giving the Steelers a chance to win with a field goal.

2016: Rough Season Leading to Coaching Speculation

Following a rough 2016 season, the Bengals looked ahead to 2017.

2016: Color Rush Uniform Unveiled

In 2016, the Bengals unveiled their all-white Color Rush alternate uniform, featuring black tiger stripes on the sleeves and pants. Orange was used sparingly.

2016: Injury-Plagued Season and Playoff Miss

The 2016 season was frustrating for the Bengals, as they finished with a 6-9-1 record after key players suffered injuries. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010, which also marked the first time Andy Dalton missed the playoffs as the starting quarterback. They tied against the Washington Redskins 27-27 in a game played in London in 2016.

2017: Bengals Created Team for 50th Anniversary

In 2017, in celebration of their 50th anniversary, a team was created based on "career statistics, team records and votes from the Bengals First 50."

2017: Winning season saves Marvin Lewis' job.

The Bengals finished 7-9 in 2017. After starting 0–3, the Bengals never found their footing. There were rumors that Marvin Lewis would not return for the next season as the Bengals' head coach. However, after two come-from-behind victories over the Lions and Ravens that eliminated both teams from the playoffs, the Bengals finished 7–9. The final two games were convincing enough for owner Mike Brown to give Lewis a new two-year contract.

December 31, 2018: Lewis and Bengals Part Ways

On December 31, 2018, Marvin Lewis and the Bengals mutually agreed to part ways after three straight losing seasons. Lewis had one year remaining on his contract.

December 2019: First Win and Clinching No. 1 Pick

In December 2019, the Bengals secured their first win of the season against the Jets, 22-6. Following a loss to the Dolphins, they clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

2020: Burrow Injury

In 2020, the Bengals started the season with a 2-5-1 record. During week 11, Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury in a game against the Washington Football Team, leading to the team finishing the season 4-11-1.

2020: Clinching No. 1 Pick

In December 2019, Following a loss to the Dolphins, the Bengals clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

January 21, 2021: New Uniform Design Announced

On January 21, 2021, the Bengals announced a new uniform design for the 2021 NFL season, retaining the striped helmet but simplifying the look by removing panels, creating a new stripe pattern for the sleeves, and changing the shade of orange. The set also puts the team's wordmark on the chest and lacks TV numbers on the sleeves.

2021: Playoff Win and Super Bowl Appearance

During the 2021 season, the Bengals won their first playoff game in 31 years and defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime to advance to Super Bowl LVI, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 23–20.

2021: Elizabeth Blackburn recalls stopping at Bengals backer bar

In 2021, Elizabeth Blackburn, the Bengals' head of strategy and fan engagement, recalled stopping at a Bengals backer bar in San Francisco during the 2015 playoffs and hearing the viewers break out into "The Bengal Growl" song.

2021: Bengals Inaugural Ring of Honor Class Announced

In 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals announced they would begin a Ring of Honor. The inaugural class included Anthony Muñoz and Paul Brown, with Ken Anderson and Ken Riley added after a season ticket holder vote.

2021: Third AFC Championship

In 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals secured their third AFC championship.

August 2022: Bengals Ranked Last in Value

In a Forbes article in August 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals were ranked last in value among NFL teams, with a value of $3 billion.

2022: AFC Championship Game Loss

In 2022, the Bengals advanced to the AFC Championship game again but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs by a score of 23–20.

2022: Alternate Helmet and Color Rush Uniform Changes

In 2022, the Bengals introduced an alternate black-striped white helmet after the NFL rescinded the "one-helmet rule." The team also brought back the all-white Color Rush uniform to be paired with the white helmets.

2022: Bengals Won Playoff Meeting Against Ravens

In 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals won the only playoff meeting against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round.

2023: Burrow's Season-Ending Injury and Playoff Miss

During the 2023 season, in Week 11 against the Baltimore Ravens, Joe Burrow suffered a wrist injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. Despite Jake Browning's efforts, the Bengals finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs.

2023: Color Rush Uniform Effectively Retired

In 2023, the Bengals paired the white helmet with the primary white uniform for two games, effectively retiring the Color Rush uniform for the time being.

2024: Ravens Lead Series Against Bengals

As of the 2024 season, the Baltimore Ravens lead the all-time series against the Cincinnati Bengals 32-27.

2024: Bengals added orange pants to uniform rotation; unveil all-orange uniform

In 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals added orange pants to their uniform rotation after the option was leaked via Madden NFL 25. The Bengals then unveiled a new all-orange uniform combination to be worn on September 8 against the Patriots.

2024: Playoff Miss Despite Strong Finish

In the 2024 season, the Bengals finished with a 9-8 record but missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Joe Burrow led the NFL in passing yards, Ja'Marr Chase won the triple crown for receiving, and Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks.

2024: Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl History Article

On August 1, 2024, Ben Rolfe published an article titled "Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl History: Appearances, Wins, Record, and More."

March 2025: Cincinnati Bengals Career Rushing Leaders

As of March 2025, Statista.com published Cincinnati Bengals All-Time Rushing Leaders (in Yards).

April 3, 2025: Lease Negotiations and Stadium Future

On April 3, 2025, Bengals executive V.P. Katie Blackburn discussed the team's lease options for Paycor Stadium, indicating potential relocation if an agreement wasn't reached with the city and county. The team proposed a $120 million renovation, largely funded by taxpayers, which faced opposition due to the Bengals' low annual rent of $158,526.