History of Cincinnati Bengals in Timeline
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team located in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC North division of the National Football League (NFL). The Bengals play their home games at Paycor Stadium. The team's history includes periods of both success and struggle, but they remain a significant part of Cincinnati's identity.
1912: Reds Used Crosley Field
Since 1912, Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds were in need of a facility to replace Crosley Field.
1937: Prior Bengals Team Existed
From 1937, a Cincinnati Bengals team existed and played in three previous American Football Leagues.
1940: Cincinnati Bengals Join New AFL
In 1940, the Cincinnati Bengals joined a third American Football League.
1941: AFL Ceases Operations
In 1941, World War II led to manpower shortages, causing the newer AFL to cease playing after the 1941 season.
1942: Prior Bengals Team Existed
Until 1942, a Cincinnati Bengals team existed and played in three previous American Football Leagues.
1946: George "Red" Bird served as Browns' music and entertainment director
In 1946, George "Red" Bird served as the Cleveland Browns' music and entertainment director.
1957: New York Teams Relocated
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 (AFL).
1961: Modell Purchases Browns
In 1961, Art Modell purchased a majority interest in the Cleveland Browns.
January 1963: Brown Considers Ohio Franchises
In January 1963, Paul Brown, after being dismissed as the Browns' head coach, considered establishing an NFL franchise in either Cincinnati or Columbus.
1964: NFL Jersey Color Choice Rule
In 1964, the NFL allowed the home team choice of jersey color.
1965: Paul Brown Plans Bengals Franchise
In 1965, former Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown began planning for the creation of the Cincinnati Bengals franchise.
1966: Riverfront Stadium Approved
In 1966, Cincinnati's city council approved the construction of Riverfront Stadium, which would become the Bengals' home field.
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: Franchise Granted to Paul Brown
In 1967, an ownership group led by Paul Brown was granted a franchise in the American Football League. Brown named the team the Bengals.
1968: Bengals Play at Nippert Stadium
For their first two seasons, including 1968, the Cincinnati Bengals played at Nippert Stadium.
1968: Bill Walsh formulates the West Coast offense
From 1968 to 1975, while serving as an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, Bill Walsh formulated what is now known as the West Coast offense.
1968: Bengals Begin Play
In 1968, the Cincinnati Bengals began play in the American Football League (AFL).
1968: "The Bengal Growl" written as team's fight song
In 1968, upon the team's founding, George "Red" Bird wrote "The Bengal Growl" as the Bengals' fight song.
1968: Team Debut and Uniform Inspiration
In 1968, when the team debuted, the Bengals' uniforms were modeled after the Cleveland Browns, using equipment owned by Paul Brown from his time with the Browns.
1970: Bengals Guaranteed NFL Franchise
By 1970, the Bengals were guaranteed to become an NFL franchise after the merger was completed.
1970: Riverfront Stadium Ready
By the opening of the 1970 NFL season, Riverfront Stadium was ready and was officially named Riverfront Stadium.
1970: Bengals Assigned to AFC
In 1970, as the AFL and NFL merged, the Cincinnati Bengals, along with other former AFL teams, were assigned to the American Football Conference (AFC).
1970: White Uniforms at Home
In 1970, the Bengals wore white uniforms at home for the entire season.
1970: Bengals Move to Riverfront Stadium
In 1970, the Cincinnati Bengals moved to Riverfront Stadium.
1970: Browns Move to AFC Central
In 1970, with the completion of the merger, the Cleveland Browns moved to the AFL-based American Football Conference and were placed in the AFC Central, the same division as the Bengals.
1971: Virgil Carter leads the NFL in pass completion percentage
In 1971, Bengals quarterback Virgil Carter led the NFL in pass completion percentage while implementing Bill Walsh's West Coast offense.
1971: White Uniforms at Home
In 1971, the Bengals wore white uniforms at home for most of the season.
1972: Ken Anderson replaced Carter as Cincinnati's starting quarterback
In 1972, Ken Anderson replaced Virgil Carter as Cincinnati's starting quarterback and proved even more successful.
1975: Paul Brown Leaves Bengals
In 1975, Paul Brown ended his tenure as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, a position he had held since the team's inception.
1975: Bengals vs. Bills Monday Night game
In 1975, during a nationally televised Monday night game between the Bengals and the Buffalo Bills, Ken Anderson's passing performance highlighted the effectiveness of the West Coast offense.
1975: Team Posts Highest Winning Percentage
In 1975, the Cincinnati Bengals posted an 11-3 record, giving them what remains the highest winning percentage (.786) in franchise history.
1978: Hudepohl Brewing Company "Hudy" gains prominence
From 1978 through the late 1980s, Hudy, a beer from Hudepohl Brewing Company, became a prominent product in Cincinnati, bearing a phonetic similarity to the "Who Dey" chant.
1980: "Who Dey" chant origins
During the 1980 season, the banter with the Hudepohl vendors grew organically into the now famous "Who Dey" chant.
1980: Addition of TV Numbers and Face Mask Change
In 1980, the Bengals added TV numbers to their sleeves and changed their helmet face mask color from gray to black.
1980: Bengals defeat Steelers twice
In 1980, the Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers during both of their meetings.
1980: Fans first use the Who Dey chant
The full Who Dey chant was first known to be used by fans of the 1980 Cincinnati Bengals.
1981: Introduction of Tiger Stripe Uniforms
In 1981, the Bengals introduced a unique uniform design with tiger stripes, including the orange helmets with black tiger stripes still in use today.
1981: Striped Helmet Design Adopted
In 1981, the Cincinnati Bengals adopted the striped helmet design, which is still in use today.
1981: AFC Championship Win
In 1981, the Cincinnati Bengals won the AFC championship and advanced to Super Bowl XVI.
1982: Anderson sets record for completion percentage
In 1982, Ken Anderson set the record for completion percentage in a single season with 70.66%.
1982: Playoffs in Back-To-Back Years
In 2012, the Bengals went to the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 1982.
1983: "Who Dat?" officially adopted by the New Orleans Saints
In 1983, "Who Dat?" was officially adopted by the New Orleans Saints, although it had been used by Louisiana 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 to Indianapolis
Prior to the 1984 NFL season, the Baltimore Colts relocated to Indianapolis.
1988: Bengals implement no-huddle offense
In 1988, Bengals head coach Sam Wyche and offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet made the no-huddle offense a standard tactic for the team, regardless of the time remaining in the game.
1988: Second AFC Championship
In 1988, the Cincinnati Bengals won their second AFC championship and reached Super Bowl XXIII.
1989: Super Bowl Appearance
In 2021, the Bengals advanced to their first Super Bowl since 1989.
1989: Bills also use No-huddle offense
Starting with the 1989 season, the Buffalo Bills, coached by Marv Levy, also used a version of the no-huddle offense.
1990: Last Playoff Apperance in the 20th Century
Following the 1990 season, the Cincinnati Bengals did not make the NFL playoffs or post a winning record for 14 years.
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 in the Wild Card round.
1991: Mike Brown Inherits Bengals
Following Paul Brown's death in 1991, his son, Mike Brown, inherited controlling interest in the Cincinnati Bengals.
1997: Addition of Tiger Logo
In 1997, the Bengals designed a logo consisting of a leaping tiger, which was added to the uniform sleeves.
2000: Dick LeBeau becomes Bengals head coach
Dick LeBeau served as the Bengals head coach from 2000 to 2002 after creating the zone blitz defense.
2000: Move to Paul Brown Stadium
In 2000, the Cincinnati Bengals moved to Paul Brown Stadium.
2002: Dick LeBeau ends tenure as Bengals head coach
Dick LeBeau served as the Bengals head coach until 2002 after creating the zone blitz defense.
2002: Tying Worst Record
The Bengals' 2-14 finish in 2019 equaled the 2002 season as the team's worst record in history.
2003: Marvin Lewis Hired, Palmer Drafted
In 2003, Marvin Lewis was hired as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Carson Palmer was drafted but did not play that season.
2004: New Uniform Design
In 2004, a new tiger stripe pattern and more accents were added to the Bengals' uniforms, including a new logo consisting of an orange "B" covered with black tiger stripes.
2004: 8-8 Record
In 2004, the Cincinnati Bengals finished with an 8-8 record and missed the postseason.
2005: Steelers defeat Bengals in 2005 playoffs
In the 2005 playoffs, the Steelers defeated the Bengals in a game marked by a controversial injury to Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer by Steelers defensive tackle Kimo Von Oelhoffen.
2005: Playoff Appearance, First Winning Season Since 1990
In the 2005 season, the Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1990 and had their first winning percentage above .500 since 1990.
2005: White Uniforms for September Home Games
Since 2005, the Bengals have worn white for September home games where the heat could become a factor.
2007: Bengals name all-time team
In 2007, the Bengals named an all-time team in celebration of their 40th anniversary, with the team being voted on by the fans.
2009: Playoff Appearance, Lewis Named Coach of the Year
In the 2009 season, the Cincinnati Bengals returned to the playoffs. Marvin Lewis was named the NFL Coach of the Year.
2010: Palmer Demands Trade
Following the disappointing 2010 season, quarterback Carson Palmer demanded to be traded by the Bengals.
2010: End of Playoff Streak
In 2010, the Bengals missed the playoffs, which was the first time since 2010 that Andy Dalton missed the playoffs as the Bengals' starting quarterback.
2010: Bengals Post 4-12 Record
In the 2010 season, the Cincinnati Bengals posted a 4-12 record.
2011: Brown Rated Among Worst Owners
In 2011, Bengals owner Mike Brown was rated as among the worst team owners in American professional sports in a survey.
2011: Mike Brown Becomes Majority Owner
In 2011, Mike Brown purchased shares of the Cincinnati Bengals owned by the estate of co-founder Austin Knowlton, becoming the majority owner of the franchise.
2011: Bengals Draft Green and Dalton, Palmer Traded
In 2011, the Bengals selected A.J. Green and Andy Dalton in the NFL draft. Carson Palmer was traded to the Oakland Raiders.
2011: Bengals Clinch Playoff Spot
In the 2011 season, the Cincinnati Bengals improved to 9-7 and clinched a playoff spot. Dalton and Green became the most prolific rookie WR-QB duo in history.
2012: Naming of Tiger 'Who Dey'
In 2012, Bengals season ticket holders named a Malayan tiger at Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden 'Who Dey'.
2012: Bengals Clinch Playoff Spot Again
In the 2012 season, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched a playoff spot again with a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2013: Bengals Win AFC North, Lose in Wild Card
In the 2013 season, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched a playoff berth and won the AFC North with an 11-5 record but were defeated in the wild card round.
2014: Bengals Lose to the Colts
In 2014, the Cincinnati Bengals finished the season 10-5-1 as the fifth seed and lost to the Colts 26-10, in the first round of the playoffs.
2015: Bengals fans sing "The Bengal Growl" in San Francisco
During the 2015 playoffs, Elizabeth Blackburn heard Bengals fans in San Francisco break out into singing "The Bengal Growl".
2015: Carol Motsinger said about the tiger named Who Dey
In 2015, Carol Motsinger spoke of the tiger named Who Dey
2015: Bengals' Franchise-Best Start and Playoff Loss
In 2015, the Bengals achieved a franchise-best 8-0 start but lost starting quarterback Andy Dalton to injury in Week 14. They finished with a 12-4 record but lost to the Steelers in the Wild Card round, marking their fifth straight opening-round playoff loss.
2015: AFC North Win
In 2021, the Bengals won the AFC North for the first time since 2015.
2015: Steelers defeat Bengals in 2015 playoffs after Jeremy Hill fumble
In the 2015 playoffs, the Steelers defeated the Bengals after Bengals running back Jeremy Hill fumbled the ball late in the game, giving the Steelers a chance to drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal.
2016: Rough 2016 Season
Following a rough 2016 season, the Bengals looked forward to 2017.
2016: Injury-Plagued Season and Playoff Miss
In 2016, the Bengals finished with a 6-9-1 record, missing the playoffs due to injuries to key players like A.J. Green and Giovani Bernard. One notable game in 2016 was a 27-27 tie against the Washington Redskins in London.
2016: Unveiling of Color Rush Uniform
In 2016, the Bengals unveiled their all-white Color Rush alternate uniform, featuring black tiger stripes along the sleeves and pants.
2017: Marvin Lewis's Contract Extension
In 2017, despite a 7-9 finish, Marvin Lewis received a new two-year contract as the Bengals' head coach after come-from-behind victories in the final two games.
2017: Bengals create team based on career statistics
In 2017, the Bengals created a team based on "career statistics, team records and votes from the Bengals First 50" to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
December 31, 2018: Marvin Lewis's Departure
On December 31, 2018, Marvin Lewis and the Bengals mutually parted ways after three straight losing seasons.
December 2019: First Win and Clinching Top Pick
In December 2019, the Bengals secured their first win of the season against the Jets. The Bengals also clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
2020: Burrow's Injury and Season Finish
In 2020, the Bengals improved with rookies Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins but lost Burrow to a season-ending knee injury in Week 11, finishing the season with a 4-11-1 record.
2020: Draft implications
The Bengals clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
January 21, 2021: New Uniform Design Announcement
On January 21, 2021, the Bengals announced a new uniform design to be worn beginning with the 2021 NFL season.
2021: Popularity of "The Bengal Growl" Endures
In 2021, Elizabeth Blackburn acknowledged the enduring popularity of "The Bengal Growl" among Bengals fans.
2021: Bengals begin Ring of Honor
In 2021, the Bengals announced they would begin a Ring of Honor, with the inaugural class including Anthony Muñoz and Paul Brown.
2021: AFC North Win and Super Bowl Appearance
In 2021, the Bengals won the AFC North with a 10-7 record, marking their first division title since 2015. Led by Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, they advanced to their first Super Bowl since 1989 but lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
2021: Bengals Win Playoff Game, Reach Super Bowl LVI
In 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals won their first playoff game in 31 years, defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime to win the AFC Championship, and advanced to Super Bowl LVI, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
2021: Third AFC Championship
In 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals won their third AFC championship.
August 2022: Bengals Ranked Last in Value
As of August 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals were ranked last in a Forbes article on NFL team values, with an estimated value of $3 billion.
2022: Alternate White Helmet Unveiled
In 2022, after the NFL rescinded the "one-helmet rule," the Bengals unveiled an alternate black-striped white helmet and brought back the all-white Color Rush uniform.
2022: Bengals win playoff meeting against Ravens
In 2022, the Bengals won their only playoff meeting against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round.
2022: Bengals Lose AFC Championship Game
In 2022, the Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the AFC Championship game but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
2022: AFC Championship Loss
In the 2022 NFL season, the Bengals lost, 23–20, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime in Week 1. They reached the AFC Championship but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs.
2023: Color Rush Uniform Retired
In 2023, the Bengals decided to pair the white helmet with the primary white uniform for two games, effectively retiring the Color Rush uniform for the time being.
2023: Burrow's Injury and Playoff Miss
In the 2023 season, Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11. The Bengals finished 9-8 and missed the playoffs.
2024: Ravens lead all-time series against Bengals as of 2024 season
As of the 2024 season, the Baltimore Ravens lead the all-time series against the Bengals with a record of 32-27.
2024: Rivalry Series Lead
As of the end of the 2024 season, the Bengals lead the series against the Cleveland Browns 55–48.
2024: Addition of Orange Pants and All-Orange Uniform
In 2024, the Bengals added orange pants to the uniform rotation and unveiled a new all-orange uniform combination to be worn September 8 against the Patriots.
2024: Strong Finish, Playoff Miss, and League Leaders
In the 2024 season, the Bengals finished strong with a 9-8 record but missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Burrow led the NFL in passing yards, Chase won the triple crown, and Hendrickson led in sacks.
