The Cincinnati Bengals have become one of the most successful and legendary clubs in the NFL, despite the fact that they have yet to win a Super Bowl. The Bengals have a cumulative postseason record of 5-12, including two conference championships and Super Bowl appearances, eight division crowns, and 12 playoff appearances.
Cincinnati has created some of the NFL’s finest players, including three Hall of Famers (2 players, 1 coach), two NFL MVPs, and four Rookie of the Year winners, during its relatively brief times of greatness.
Below is my list of the top 5 players to ever play for the Cincinnati Bengals.
5. Chad Johnson
Chad Johnson, commonly known as “Chad Ochocinco,” is the Bengals’ all-time leading wide receiver. During his six-year career with the Bengals, the six-time Pro Bowler racked up 10,783 yards and 66 touchdowns while also helping the team reach the playoffs twice.
Johnson has more than 3,000 yards more than the Bengals’ next highest receiver with 10,783 yards, and his 11,059 career receiving yards (276 with the Patriots) put him 30th all-time among NFL receivers.
4. Ken Riley
Ken Riley, a former Bengals defensive back, is not only the finest defensive back, but also the best defender. Riley is tops in Bengals history with 65 career interceptions, 32 more than the next closest Bengal (Louis Breeden, 33 interceptions).
Riley is also the only player in the NFL’s Top 10 career interceptions leaders to have recorded every interception for the same club. Finally, Riley has played in more Bengal games than any other player in franchise history, with a total of 207 appearances.
3. Boomer Esiason
Esiason, a four-time Pro Bowler, led the Bengals to their second Super Bowl victory during one of the team’s most successful periods. Esiason had his greatest season in 1988, when he led the Bengals to the Super Bowl; he was named the NFL’s most valuable player that year and came within a whisker of leading Cincinnati to its first and only Super Bowl triumph.
2. Ken Anderson
Ken Anderson has the most throwing yards and touchdowns in Bengals history with 32,838 yards and 197 touchdowns. During his time with the Bengals, Anderson had a 91-81-0 record and led the team to the playoffs four times. Ken Anderson, like Boomer Esiason, was a four-time Pro Bowler, a one-time MVP (in 1981), and a Super Bowl champion with Cincinnati.
1. Anthony Munoz
Anthony Munoz led the Bengals offensive line for 13 years during what many consider to be the team’s finest era; he was one of seven Bengals to appear in both of the team’s Super Bowl appearances. Munoz appeared in a total of 185 games, starting 183 of them. He also caught four touchdown passes while playing left tackle.
