Cincinnati Bengals 2025: History, Achievements, Notable Players, Rivalries, Schedule, Starters and More

Cincinnati Bengals History

The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team playing in the North Division of the AFC (American Football Conference) of the NFL. Along with the Baltimore Ravens, the Cleveland Browns, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Known for their passionate fanbase boasting the iconic "Who Dey?" chant and fight song 'The Bengals Growl', as well as their official mascot, a tiger named Who Dey.

Originating from the "Hu-Dey" beer released by Hudepohl Brewing in 1981, which featured a tiger face, stripes, and the chant "Who dey think gonna beat dem Bengals? The full chant is "Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?" with fans responding "Nobody!" The Bengals play their home games at Paycor Stadium (formerly Paul Brown Stadium) in Cincinnati. The Bengals' current uniforms feature orange, black, or white jerseys with tiger stripes and black or white pants.  

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (24) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals joined the American Football League (AFL) as an expansion team in 1968. Paul Brown, who had become one of the most respected coaches in the game at the helm of the Cleveland Browns, was one of the franchise’s founders and its first head coach. Cincinnati was a member of the AFL for just two seasons before the league merged with the NFL in 1970. The Bengals’ maiden year in the NFL saw the team post its first winning record and earn a playoff spot as the AFC Central champion.

That same year, the team began to play in Riverfront Stadium, a multipurpose venue they would share with baseball’s Cincinnati Reds for the following 30 years. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Diego Chargers, 27-7, in the 1981 AFC Championship, which was the coldest game in NFL history in terms of wind chill at -37 degrees. 

Cincinnati Bengals Achievements

The Cincinnati Bengals have played in three Super Bowls- 1982, 1989, and 2022. However, they have returned unvictorious all three times.  In 1972, the Bengals turned their offense over to second-year quarterback Ken Anderson, who led the team for over a decade and set numerous franchise passing records. The Bengals made two more playoff appearances in the 1970s, but they failed to win their first contest on each occasion.

Cincinnati broke out of its 14-year postseason drought in 2005 as a team featuring quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Chad Johnson won a divisional title before losing to the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. The Bengals captured a division championship in 2009 and qualified for the playoffs for five straight years, a first in franchise history, from 2011 to 2015, but the team lost its opening game in each postseason, extending the NFL’s longest active streak without a playoff victory.

Cincinnati Bengals Notable Players

The Cincinnati Bengals have their Hall of Fame decked with elite players and coaches. Some of their most notable players are

• Joe Burrow – Quarterback​
• Ja'Marr Chase – Wide Receiver​
• Tee Higgins – Wide Receiver​

• Trey Hendrickson – Defensive End​
• Logan Wilson – Linebacker
• Boomer Esiason - Star QB

Major rivalries of the Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have fierce competition with these teams, often impacting their playoff aspirations, as they are all from the same division AFC North.

• The Bengals–Ravens rivalry has been fiercely competitive. Notably, in the 2022 AFC Wild Card game, the Bengals secured a 24–17 victory over the Ravens, highlighted by Sam Hubbard's 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown, the longest in NFL postseason history. 
• The Bengals–Steelers rivalry has seen numerous intense matchups. In December 2024, controversy arose when Steelers' linebacker T.J. Watt was accused of intentionally twisting Bengals' quarterback Joe Burrow's ankle during a game, raising questions about sportsmanship. 

• Known as the "Battle of Ohio," the Bengals–Browns rivalry continues to be significant. In December 2024, the Bengals defeated the Browns 24-6, completing their first season sweep of Cleveland since 2017 and keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Cincinnati Bengals Schedule

The Bengals have a tight schedule ahead of them in the 2025 season. With several home and away games, they all three of their rivals at home as well as on the road.

Home games:

• New England Patriots
• New York Jets
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Chicago Bears
• Detroit Lions
• Arizona Cardinals
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Baltimore Ravens
• Cleveland Browns

Away Games:

• Buffalo Bills
• Miami Dolphins
• Denver Broncos
• Green Bay Packers
• Minnesota Vikings
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• Baltimore Ravens
• Cleveland Browns

Tune in for more updates on the Bengals' schedule.

Cincinnati Bengals Starters

The Bengals' starters have star QB Joe Burrow as well as Ja'Marr Chase and Chase Brown at the helm.

Quarterbacks	Joe Burrow
Running Backs	Chase Brown
Wide Receivers	Ja'Marr Chase Tee Higgins Andrei Isosivas
Tight Ends	Mike Gesicki
Offensive Linemen	Orlando Brown Jr. Cordell Volson Ted Karras Cody Ford Amarius Mims
Defensive Linemen	Cam Sample Kris Jenkins Jr. B.J. Hill Trey Hendrickson
Linebackers	Logan Wilson Germaine Pratt Oren Burks Cam Taylor-Britt
Defensive Backs	Jordan Battle Geno Stone Dax Hill Jalen Davis
Special Teams	Evan McPherson  Ryan Rehkow Charlie Jones Jermaine Burton Cal Adomitis

The Cincinnati Bengals are going full throttle for the 2025 season!

Cincinnati Bengals Titbits

• Since drafting Joe Burrow in 2020, the Bengals have become a serious contender, reaching the Super Bowl in the 2021 season.
• Paycor Stadium, formerly Paul Brown Stadium, is nicknamed "The Jungle" and features a loud, passionate fanbase.
• The Bengals have intense rivalries with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns.

• DE Sam Hubbard recorded the longest fumble return touchdown in playoff history (98 yards) in a 2022 Wild Card game.
• In the 2021 season, the Bengals won their first playoff game since 1990, breaking a decades-long drought.
• Former wide receiver Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson was famous for his touchdown celebrations and bold personality.
• The Bengals' striped helmets are among the most recognizable in the NFL, featuring a tiger-stripe pattern.