The 2024 Cincinnati Bengals season is just days away. Joe Burrow and the Bengals have high, high expectations on the year and it all gets started when the New England Patriots come to town. With each home game, the Bengals announce a “Ruler of the Jungle.”
According to the Bengals, the “Ruler of the Jungle” was, “established in 2021, The Ruler of the Jungle ceremony is a pregame celebrity-led moment where The Ruler leads the “Who Dey” chant right before kickoff. Injecting energy into Paycor Stadium, The Ruler of the Jungle establishes the ultimate home-field advantage in the NFL.”
For Week 1 against the Patriots, the Bengals announced that UConn Mens Basketball Coach Dan Hurley will be the first “Ruler of the Jungle.”
Bengals Announce Dan Hurley as Week 1 “Ruler of the Jungle”
Let’s go!! Home opener…Bringing Championship Vibes and Mojo to the Jungle!! Who Dey!!! 🐅🏆 https://t.co/V1RPodZ9Xf
— Dan Hurley (@dhurley15) September 1, 2024
Hurley is a well-known Bengals fan. He’s gone so far as to say, “Who Dey,” after UConn took down the Cincinnati-based Big East rival in Xavier. He has said that he’s been a fan of the Bengals ever since the 1981 Freezer Bowl. The Bengals took down the San Diego Chargers in the infamous AFC Championship game that still stands as the second-coldest game in NFL history.
He’s been the head coach of the UConn Huskies since 2018 and has amassed a 113-82 record in that time. Over the last four seasons, however, he’s 106-29 (with 10 losses in 2022) with four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. After not being able to get out of the first weekend in 2021 and 2022, Hurley’s Huskies are now back-to-back National Champions and have been heads above any other program. UConn was the first repeat champion since Florida’s 2006-2007 runs and just the second since Duke’s 1991 and 1992 titles.
Past Rulers of the Jungle
The Bengals have been doing the “Ruler of the Jungle” tradition over the last three seasons to date, they’ve had a handful of rulers:
2021
Preseason Week 3: JB (Super Fan)
Week 1: Bob Johnson (Bengals Legend, “The First Bengal”
Week 4: Ken Anderson, Anthony Munoz, Ken Riley (Inaugural Bengals Ring of Honor Inductees)
Week 5: Zach Apple (Olympic Medalist from the greater Cincinnati metropolitan area)
Week 9: Chad Johnson (Bengals Legend)
Week 12: Willie Anderson (Bengals Legend)
Week 13: Duke Ragan (Olympic Medalist from Cincinnati)
Week 14: Kay Adams (Sports Commentator, formerly of NFL Network and now with FanDuel TV)
Week 16: Max Montoya (Bengals Legend)
Week 17: Bengal Jim (Fan of the Year)
Wild Card Round: Ickey Woods (Bengals Legend)
2022
Preseason Week 3: Hamilton County Commissioners
Week 1: Dave Lapham (Bengals Legend, WLW Radio Color Commentator)
Week 4: Isaac Curtis, Willie Anderson (2021 Ring of Honor inductees, Anderson’s second time)
Week 7: Devon Still and Leah Still (former Bengal and his daughter who beat cancer)
Week 9: Adam Pac-Man Jones (Bengals Legend)
Week 13: Renee Paquette, Jon Moxley (AEW)
Week 14: Jim Breech (Bengals Legend)
Week 17: “The Swat Team” Aka David Fulcher, Solomon Wilcots, Eric Thomas (Bengals Legends)
Week 18: Phil Amrein (Fan of the Year)
Wild Card Round: T.J. Houshmandzadeh
2023
Preseason Week 1: Bootsy Collins (Musician from Cincinnati)
Week 1: A.J. Green (Bengals Legend)
Week 3: Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson (2023 Ring of Honor inductees, Johnson’s second time)
Week 6: Heidi Siens (Superfan and Breast Cancer Survivor)
Week 9: Kevin Huber, Clark Harris (Bengals Legends)
Week 10: Bob Trumpy (Bengals Legend)
Week 12: Domata Peko (Bengals Legend)
Week 14: Reggie Williams (Bengals Legend)
Week 15: Leon Hall (Bengals Legend)
Week 18: Tony da Tiger (Fan of the Year)
2024
Preseason Week 1: Rey Maualuga (Bengals Legend
Week 1: Dan Hurley
Over the last three seasons, including playoffs, the Bengals have managed a 19-8 record at Paycor Stadium. This year, with the three AFC North games plus the Patriots, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, and Denver Broncos coming to town, the Bengals have to keep up their success at the friendly confines.
They’ve announced a few theme days for the year as well. In Week 1, they’ll debut the orange pants for an “orange out.” In Week 8, the “White Bengal” look will return. In Week 16, the orange pants will return but this time the Bengals will wear black on top and try to stripe the stadium.
Main image: Joseph Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
