One of the many fan experience upgrades for the Cincinnati Bengals this season is the creation of the Ring of Honor. Over the years the Bengals have had many Hall of Fame worthy players, yet only one has been enshrined. Anthony Munoz is an all time great, but why is he the only Bengal in the Hall? It has been said that the team itself is guilty for not honoring their own players in their stadium. The Bengals Ring of Honor will bring more attention to the rich history of the team. On July 22, 2021 the inaugural Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor class was finalized.
The Inaugural Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor Class
In April of 2021, the Bengals announced the Ring of Honor would have four initial inductees with two being named by the team and two being named by season ticket holder votes. The first two members named were Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. Paul Brown was an easy first choice being the founder of the Bengals. Anthony Munoz is easily the most accomplished Bengal, and he made perfect sense to be the second named member of the Ring of Honor.
The team announced a list of former Bengals greats for the season ticket holders to select from. The list included Ken Anderson, Willie Anderson, Jim Breech, James Brooks, Cris Collinsworth, Isaac Curtis, Corey Dillon, Boomer Esiason, David Fulcher, Chad Johnson, Tim Krumrie, Dave Lapham, Max Montoya, Lemar Parrish, Ken Riley, Bob Trumpy, and Reggie Williams. The fans could only select two players to finish off the inaugural class.
The Fans Vote for Kenny and the Rattler
The fans wisely decided on Ken Anderson and Ken Riley. These players arguably are the most accomplished Bengals not currently enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. While other players may be more popular, there was a strong push on social media to select the two Kens.
Ken Anderson was the Bengals quarterback from 1971 – 1986. During that time, Anderson won four league passing titles and was a four time Pro Bowler. Anderson played more games for the Bengals than any other offensive player, and he held several NFL passing percentage records when he retired. In 1981 he was the NFL MVP winning the passing title and leading the Bengals to their first Super Bowl. Anderson is active in the community through the Ken Anderson Foundation which works to give opportunities for adults with disabilities.
Ken Riley played for the Bengals from 1969 – 1983. Known as “the Rattler” he retired with the fourth most interceptions in the NFL. At the start of the 2021 season, Riley still ranks fifth all time in interceptions. Riley was a quarterback at Florida A&M before switching positions to cornerback in Cincinnati. Despite never having played cornerback, three times he led the AFC in interceptions. Riley played 207 games as a Bengal which is the most of any player. Despite his lofty rankings, Riley still has been ignored by the Hall of Fame voters. Riley will be inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor posthumously, as he passed away on June 7, 2020. Riley’s passing created a push amongst Bengals fans to get him enshrined one day in the Hall of Fame.
Future Honors?
It is hoped that the Ring of Honor inductions for the two Kens will call more attention nationally to their greatness. These two players unquestionably belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Ring of Honor and the tireless work of fans should fix this error. No longer will the past Bengals achievements go unrecognized. Future honorees such as Chad Johnson and Willie Anderson should have their Hall of Fame induction chances improved greatly upon their expected inductions next season.
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