STAFF
BENGALS FRANCHISE FIRSTS
FIRST HEAD COACH: Paul Brown, who coached the team from 1968 through ’75.
FIRST DRAFT CHOICE: Center Bob Johnson, from the University of
Tennessee, was the Bengals’ No. 1 draft choice in their inaugural season of
1968.
VETERANS
FIRST GAME: Aug. 3, 1968 — a preseason home game against the
Kansas City Chiefs at Nippert Stadium. The Chiefs won, 38-14, in front of
21,682 fans.
The Bengals selected Univ. of Tennessee
center Bob Johnson with their first choice
in the 1968 NFL-AFL draft. Johnson
played 12 seasons for the Bengals,
from 1968-79.
FIRST PLAYOFF GAME: On Saturday, Dec. 26, 1970, the Bengals lost
to the Baltimore Colts, 17-0, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game. The Bengals reached the
playoffs in just the franchise’s third season by winning the AFC Central Division title with an 8-6 regular-season record.
FIRST PLAYOFF GAME VICTORY: On Jan. 3, 1982, the Bengals defeated the Buffalo Bills, 28-21, at Riverfront Stadium
in Cincinnati in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game. A week later, the Bengals beat San Diego in the AFC Championship Game
to earn a trip to Super Bowl XVI.
FROM BUFFALO BILLS
Gary Bugenhagen, T, Syracuse
Bobby Burnett, RB, Arkansas
*Charlie King, DB, Purdue
Bob Schmidt, T, Minnesota
Rich Zecher, DT, Utah St.
FROM KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Chris Burford, SE, Stanford
*Sherrill Headrick, LB, Tex. Christian
*Bobby Hunt, DB, Auburn
Al Reynolds, G, Tarkio
*Fletcher Smith, DB, Tennessee St.
FROM SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
*Frank Buncom, LB, Southern Cal.
*Jim Griffin, DE, Grambling
Frank Marsh, RB, Oregon St.
Dick Van Raaphorst, PK, Ohio St.
*Ernie Wright, T, Ohio State
FROM DENVER BRONCOS
Cookie Gilchrist, RB, none
Mike Kellogg, RB, Santa Clara
*Pat Matson, G, Oregon
Henry Sorrell, LB, Tenn.-Chatt.
Lonnie Wright, DB, Colorado St.
FROM NEW YORK JETS
Solomon Brannan, DB, Morris Brown
Bill Brown, T, Texas-El Paso
*John Matlock, C, Miami (Fla.)
*Pete Perreault, G, Boston U.
Jim Waskiewicz, C/LB, Wichita St.
*Made Bengals All-Time Roster
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
FROM OAKLAND RAIDERS
*Dan Archer, T, Oregon
*Estes Banks, RB, Colorado
Nate Johns, RB, San Diego St.
*Rod Sherman, FL, Southern Cal.
Richard Sligh, DT, N. Car. Central
RECORDS
FROM HOUSTON OILERS
*Dan Brabham, LB, Arkansas
Joe Bob Isbell, G, Houston
*Willie Lee Jones, DE, Kansas St.
Bob Poole, TE, Clemson
*Andy Rice, DT, Texas Southern
HISTORY
FROM BOSTON PATRIOTS
Joe Bellino, RB, Navy
Jim Boudreaux, DT, La. Tech
J.D. Garrett, RB, Grambling
*White Graves, DB, Louisiana St.
Ron Hall, DB, Missouri Valley
2006 REVIEW
BENGALS SELECTIONS IN 1968 AFL EXPANSION DRAFT
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
FIRST REGULAR-SEASON VICTORY: On Sunday, Sept. 15, 1968, the
Bengals won their home opener, defeating the Denver Broncos, 24-10. A crowd
of 25,049 watched at Nippert Stadium.
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
FIRST REGULAR-SEASON GAME: On Friday night, Sept. 6, 1968,
in San Diego, the Bengals began play in the American Football League. They
lost to the Chargers, 29-13.
FIRST BENGALS REGULAR-SEASON SCORING PLAY: On the
Bengals’ first possession of their first regular-season game — Sept. 6, 1968
at San Diego — RB Paul Robinson scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run. Dale
Livingston kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Cincinnati lead. The Chargers came
back to win, 29-13.
ROSTERS
FIRST PLAYER: QB John Stofa, who was acquired in December, 1967, from the Miami Dolphins in a trade for two draft
choices. Stofa played for the Bengals in 1968 and ’69.
— 213 —
Book 1.indb 213
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
ROSTERS
VETERANS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
Cincinnati was home to two other football teams in
the National Football League prior to the present-day
Bengals.
One of the teams, known as the Cincinnati Celts, was
a member of the NFL — then known as the American
Professional Football Association — in the league’s
second season in 1921. That team finished with a 1-3-0
record in its only season.
In 1933, the NFL granted the city another franchise,
this time called the Cincinnati Reds. They competed in the
league for two seasons before folding. The Reds finished
with a 3-6-1 record and fourth place in the league’s
Western Division in 1933. In 1934, they lost their first
eight games before suspending operations. The St. Louis
Gunners, an independent team, joined the NFL by buying
the Cincinnati franchise and went 1-2 the last three weeks
of the season.
It was a third team, however — one which was not
a member of the NFL — that eventually proved to be the
closest link to today’s modern-era team.
In 1937, a team called the Cincinnati Bengals was
formed as a member of the rival American Football League.
It was that team’s nickname which was later adopted by
today’s NFL franchise.
The 1937 Bengals finished with a 2-4-2 record in
their first year, but the AFL folded after the season. The
Bengals continued as an independent team in 1938,
playing three NFL teams that year. They beat the Chicago
Bears, 17-13, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, 38-0, and tied
the Chicago Cardinals, 7-7.
In 1939, the Bengals joined a new AFL, finishing in
second place with a 6-2 record. But again, the league
folded after the season.
Once again in 1940, another new AFL emerged, and
again the Bengals joined. They recorded 1-7-0 and 1-5-2
marks in 1940 and ’41, respectively. That AFL suffered the
fate of the two AFLs before it, folding after the 1941 season
as the United States entered World War II. Only this time,
the Bengals folded along with it.
Pro football returned to Cincinnati 26 years later, in
1967, when Paul Brown headed an ownership group which
landed an expansion franchise in the modern-era American
Football League. Brown, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who
founded and coached the Cleveland Browns from 1946-62,
picked the name Bengals for the new team “to give it a link
with past professional football in Cincinnati.”
Hundreds of names were suggested by fans in an
effort to name the new Cincinnati team, the most popular
being Buckeyes. It was rejected to avoid confusion with
the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Bengals began play in the AFL in 1968. The AFL
merged with the NFL in 1970.
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
RECORDS
HISTORY
2006 REVIEW
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
CINCINNATI PRO FOOTBALL HISTORY
1938 Cincinnati Bengals
Front row (left to right): 65-Tarz Carlson, 84-Bud Payne, 60-Cole Wilging, 85-Sig Sigillo, 55-Freddy Wunderlich, 69-Joe Kruse, 14-Blond
Blizzard Owen, 80-Norm Cable, 41-Irish Pavkov, 54-Horse Chesney, 64-Pat Howlett, 51-Tiger Martinovich.
Back row: 70-Homer Reynolds, 72-Jug Brown, 75-King Bernard, 73-Socko Wiethe, 88-Bumper McPhail, 61-Earl Warwick, 83-Connie Mack Berry,
81-Phil Bucklew, 82-Bill Muellner, 52-Russ Sweeney, 87-Wild Bill Gerdes, 86-Turk Russ, Coach Dana M. King.
DOUBLING UP
Twice in Bengals history, a Cincinnati player has managed 100-plus yards both rushing and receiving
on the same day. HB Essex Johnson was the first, rushing for 121 yards on 21 carries and getting 116
yards on two receptions on Sept. 30, 1973 at San Diego. He stood alone in the category until Dec. 7, 1986,
when HB James Brooks burned the Patriots at New England for 163 yards on 18 rushes and 101 yards on
six receptions. Cincinnati won both games.
Bengals opponents have managed double 100-yard performances twice, and Cincinnati lost both of
those games. On Nov. 23, 1975, Cleveland HB Greg Pruitt had 121 yards on 17 rushes and 106 yards on
seven receptions vs. Cincinnati at Cleveland Stadium. On Sept. 22, 1985, San Diego RB Lionel James
became the only NFL player to record dual 100s at Riverfront Stadium (later renamed Cinergy Field). James
had 127 yards on 12 rushes and 118 yards on five receptions.
— 214 —
Book 1.indb 214
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
Anthony Muñoz puts Bengals stamp
on Pro Football Hall of Fame
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
Peter Brouillet/NFL Photos
VETERANS
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2006 REVIEW
HISTORY
RECORDS
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
which he was chosen for the
AFC-NFC Pro Bowl game. At the
time of his retirement (1992), that
was the most selections of any player in NFL history. He
earned All-Pro honors every season from 1981-91.
Muñoz played for the Bengals in each of their Super
Bowl appearances, as a second-year player in Super Bowl
XVI and as a ninth-year veteran in Super Bowl XXIII.
In 1994, he was one of three offensive tackles named to
the NFL’s official 75th Anniversary
Team. He joined his fellow tackles
from that 75th Anniversary Team
— Forrest Gregg and Roosevelt
Brown — in the Hall of Fame.
Muñoz’ exceptional agility and
athleticism is reflected by his entry
line in the Bengals’ all-time pass
receiving statistics. He caught
seven passes, playing as a tackleeligible, and four of those catches
were for touchdowns.
In six of his 13 Bengals
seasons, Muñoz earned at least
one major award as NFL Offensive
Lineman of the Year. One award
citation, issued by NFL Alumni,
reads: “The NFL has three levels
of offensive linemen. The bottom
rung is for players aspiring to make
the Pro Bowl. The next step is for
those who have earned all-star
status. Then there’s Anthony Muñoz. He’s alone at the
top, a sure Hall of Famer.”
Though there are Hall of Fame members with some
Hispanic ancestry, Muñoz is generally considered the first
player of primarily Hispanic background to gain entry to
the Hall. Muñoz was born in Ontario, Calif. His parents
also are native Californians, and his grandparents were
born in Chihuahua, Mexico.
One other Hall of Fame player, wide receiver Charlie
Joiner, has a Bengals
connection. But Joiner
WHAT THEY’VE SAID ABOUT ANTHONY MUÑOZ
played the majority of his
• Ritter Collett, Dayton Daily News columnist: “Anthony Muñoz is one of those rare
NFL career with the San
athletes you wish could go on playing forever. Not just because he may be as fine a
Diego Chargers. Paul
tackle as ever played in the NFL. Tackles come and go. Quality human beings who put
Brown, founder of the
more back into society than they take out are something else.”
Bengals and the Cleveland
• Former Bengals head coach Forrest Gregg, recalling a pre-draft workout in 1980: “I
Browns, also is in the Hall
was pass-rushing him. I put a couple of moves on him and thought I had him set up. But
of Fame, but was inducted
he just jammed me with that big right paw, and I landed right on my rear. I didn’t need any
before the Bengals’ first
more. Right then, I knew we would take him in the draft if he was available. He apologized
season.
for knocking me down, but I said, ‘Son, don’t worry. It was a great move.’ ”
The other 1998 Hall
• Jim McNally, Bengals offensive line coach, 1980-94: “The key word is ‘athlete.’
of Fame inductees were
In the offensive line, you see a lot of guys who are big and strong and fine players,
defensive back Paul Krause,
but they’re not great athletes. Anthony is a great athlete.”
wide receiver Tommy
• Joe Walter, Bengals OT, 1985-97: “Anthony played great every Sunday for 13 years.
McDonald, center Dwight
Every Monday, I was in the film room, watching him. It was awesome.”
Stephenson and linebacker
Mike Singletary.
ROSTERS
Anthony Muñoz, who defined the art of playing
offensive tackle in the National Football League, is the
only player who performed primarily for the Bengals to
gain entry to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Muñoz was
inducted, along with four other players, on Aug. 1, 1998,
at the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Muñoz chose his son, Michael, as his presenter for
the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Muñoz and his wife,
DeDe, also have a daughter, Michelle.
1998 was the first year of Hall
eligibility for Muñoz, whose final
NFL season was 1992 with the
Bengals. Including the 2007 class,
only 26 percent of Hall inductees
have had the honor of first-ballot
election (63 of 241).
“Anthony’s induction was very
gratifying to our organization
and to all of our fans,” said Mike
Brown, Bengals president. “It
was particularly so because the
selectors recognized Anthony as a
truly special player and person who
deserved election on his first try.
During his playing days, no one in
the NFL was better. It’s justifiable to
consider him as the best offensive
lineman ever, and he has conducted
his personal and family life in a way
that is a great credit to the Bengals
and the NFL.”
Muñoz’ off-field efforts earned him the NFL’s prestigious
Man of the Year Award in 1991.
Muñoz was a consensus All-American at the University
of Southern California, and the Bengals claimed him with
the third overall pick in the 1980 draft, despite the fact
some teams considered him damaged goods due to past
knee surgery. The move turned out as the best draft gamble
in franchise history, as Muñoz went on to play 13 Bengals
seasons (1980-92), including 11 seasons (1981-91) in
— 215 —
Book 1.indb 215
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
BENGALS IN SUPER BOWL XVI
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
RECORDS
HISTORY
2006 REVIEW
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
VETERANS
ROSTERS
San Francisco 26, Bengals 21
Jan. 24, 1982, at Pontiac Silverdome (Pontiac, Mich.)
Cincinnati outgained San Francisco by 81 yards (356-275), marking the first time in Super Bowl history the losing team
led in scrimmage yardage. Bengals QB Ken Anderson set Super Bowl records (since surpassed) for completions (25) and
completion percentage (73.5), and his 300 passing yards nearly doubled the 157 by 49ers QB Joe Montana, the game’s MVP.
But Cincinnati suffered four turnovers to San Francisco’s one, and three of those giveaways led to 17 first-half points for the
49ers, who led 20-0 at intermission.
Leading 20-7, San Francisco staged a memorable goal-line stand late in the third quarter, stopping Cincinnati for no gain on three
straight plays from the one-yard line. The Bengals still closed the gap to 20-14 with a four-yard TD pass from Anderson to TE Dan Ross
with 10:06 left, but the 49ers added FGs of 40 and 23 yards by K Ray Wersching to pull away. Cincinnati crept to within 26-21 with 16
seconds left on a second Anderson-to-Ross TD pass, but San Francisco recovered the Bengals’ ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.
Wersching’s four FGs tied a Super Bowl record (still tied) and Ross’ 11 receptions set a Super Bowl record (since tied).
LINEUPS
San Francisco ....................... 7
Cincinnati .............................. 0
San Francisco 49ers
OFFENSE
WR Dwight Clark
LT
Dan Audick
LG
John Ayers
C
Fred Quillan
RG Randy Cross
RT
Keith Fahnhorst
TE
Charle Young
WR Freddie Solomon
QB
Joe Montana
RB
Ricky Patton
FB
Earl Cooper
DEFENSE
LE
Jim Stuckey
NT
Archie Reese
RE
Dwaine Board
LOLB Willie Harper
LILB Jack Reynolds
RILB Bobby Leopold
ROLB Keena Turner
LCB Ronnie Lott
RCB Eric Wright
SS
Carlton Williamson
FS
Dwight Hicks
SUBSTITUTES
Dan Bunz, John Choma, Johnny Davis, Fred Dean, Walt Downing,
Rick Gervais, John Harty, Allan Kennedy, Amos Lawrence, Milt
McColl, Jim Miller, Lawrence Pillers, Craig Puki, Eason Ramson,
Bill Ring, Mike Shumann, Lynn Thomas, Ray Wersching, Mike
Wilson.
DID NOT PLAY
Guy Benjamin, Walt Easley, Lenvil Elliott, Saladin Martin.
DEFENSE
LE
Eddie Edwards
NT
Wilson Whitley
RE
Ross Browner
LOLB Bo Harris
LILB Jim LeClair
RILB Glenn Cameron
ROLB Reggie Williams
LCB Louis Breeden
RCB Ken Riley
SS
Bobby Kemp
FS
Bryan Hicks
DID NOT PLAY
Glenn Bujnoch, Turk Schonert, Jack Thompson.
6
14
—
—
26
21
SCORING PLAY
QTR-LEFT
J.Montana 1 run (R.Wersching kick) ....................... 1-5:52
E.Cooper 11 pass from J.Montana (R.Wersching kick) 2-6:53
R.Wersching 22 field goal ....................................... 2-0:15
R.Wersching 26 field goal ....................................... 2-0:02
K.Anderson 5 run (J.Breech kick) .......................... 3-11:25
D.Ross 4 pass from K.Anderson (J.Breech kick).... 4-10:06
R.Wersching 40 field goal ....................................... 4-5:25
R.Wersching 23 field goal ....................................... 4-1:57
D.Ross 3 pass from K.Anderson (J.Breech kick)...... 4-0:16
SAN FRANCISCO
CINCINNATI
First downs ..................................................... 20.............................24
Total net yards ............................................... 275...........................356
Net yards rushing .......................................... 127.............................72
Net yards passing.......................................... 148...........................284
Sacks against-yards lost ................................1-9......................... 5-16
Passes-completions-interceptions ......... 22-14-0....................34-25-2
Punts-avg. yards .......................................4-46.3...................... 3-43.7
Penalties-yards ............................................8-65......................... 8-57
Fumbles-lost ..................................................2-1........................... 2-2
Time of possession .................................... 30:34........................29:26
49ERS
J.Montana
SUBSTITUTES
Don Bass, Jim Breech, Gary Burley, Oliver Davis, Tom Dinkel,
Guy Frazier, Mike Fuller, Archie Griffin, Ray Griffin, Jim Hargrove,
M.L. Harris, Rod Horn, Steve Kreider, Pat McInally, Blake Moore,
Mike Obrovac, Rick Razzano, Mike St. Clair, John Simmons,
David Verser.
0
7
Missed FG: None. Attendance: 81,270. Time: 3:21.
49ERS
R.Patton
E.Cooper
J.Montana
B.Ring
J.Davis
D.Clark
Cincinnati Bengals
OFFENSE
WR Cris Collinsworth
LT
Anthony Muñoz
LG
Dave Lapham
C
Blair Bush
RG Max Montoya
RT
Mike Wilson
TE
Dan Ross
WR Isaac Curtis
QB
Ken Anderson
HB
Charles Alexander
FB
Pete Johnson
TEAM
S.F. —
S.F. —
S.F. —
S.F. —
CIN —
CIN —
S.F. —
S.F. —
CIN —
13
0
Att
17
9
6
5
2
1
Yds
55
34
18
17
5
-2
RUSHING
Lg TD
BENGALS Att Yds Lg TD
10 0
P.Johnson 14 36 5 0
14 0
C.Alexander 5 17 13 0
8 1
K.Anderson 4 15 6 1
7 0
A.Griffin
1
4 4 0
4 0
-2 0
PASSING
Att Cmp Yds TD-I
BENGALS Att Cmp Yds TD-I
22 14 157 1-0
K.Anderson 34 25 300 2-2
RECEIVING
Yds Lg TD
BENGALS No Yds Lg TD
52 20 0
D.Ross
11 104 16 2
45 17 0
C.Collinsworth 5 107 49 0
15 11-t 1
I.Curtis
3 42 21 0
22 22 0
S.Kreider
2 36 19 0
14 14 0
P.Johnson
2
8 5 0
6 6 0
C.Alexander 2
3 3 0
3 3 0
49ERS
F. Solomon
D.Clark
E.Cooper
M.Wilson
C.Young
R.Patton
B.Ring
No
4
4
2
1
1
1
1
49ERS
D.Hicks
E.Wright
INTERCEPTIONS
No Yds Lg TD
BENGALS No Yds Lg TD
1 27 27 0
none
1 25 25 0
SACKS: S.F. — F.Dean 1, B.Leopold 1, J.Reynolds 1, J.Stuckey 1,
K.Turner 1. CIN. — R.Browner 1.
— 216 —
Book 1.indb 216
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
BENGALS IN SUPER BOWL XXIII
San Francisco 20, Bengals 16
Cincinnati .............................. 0
San Francisco ....................... 3
DEFENSE
LE
Jim Skow
NT
Tim Krumrie
RE
Jason Buck
LOLB Leon White
LILB Carl Zander
RILB Joe Kelly
ROLB Reggie Williams
LCB Lewis Billups
RCB Eric Thomas
SS
David Fulcher
FS
Solomon Wilcots
DID NOT PLAY
Mike Norseth.
RUSHING
Att Yds Lg TD
49ERS
Att Yds Lg TD
20 79 10 0
R.Craig
17 71 13 0
6 24 11 0
T.Rathman
5 23 11 0
1 3 3 0
J.Montana
4 13 11 0
1 0 0 0
J.Rice
1
5 5 0
PASSING
Att Cmp Yds TD-I
49ERS
25 11 144 0-1
J.Montana
BENGALS
none
Yds
32
40
32
23
17
RECEIVING
Lg TD
49ERS
No Yds Lg TD
17 0
J.Rice
11 215 44 1
23 0
R.Craig
8 101 40 0
20 0
J.Frank
2 15 8 0
18 0
T.Rathman
1 16 16 0
17 0
J.Taylor
1 10 10-t 1
INTERCEPTIONS
No Yds Lg TD
49ERS
No Yds Lg TD
B.Romanowski 1
0 0 0
SACKS: S.F. — C.Haley 2, M.Carter 1, K.Fagan 1, D.Stubbs 1.
CIN. — J.Buck 1, D.Fulcher 1, D.Grant 1, R.Williams 1.
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
BENGALS No
E.Brown
3
C.Collinsworth 3
J.Brooks
2
T.McGee
2
I.Hillary
1
Att Cmp Yds TD-I
36 23 357 2-0
RECORDS
DID NOT PLAY
Steve Young.
SCORING PLAY
QTR-LEFT
M.Cofer 41 field goal............................................... 1-3:14
J.Breech 34 field goal .............................................. 2-1:15
J.Breech 43 field goal .............................................. 3-5:39
M.Cofer 32 field goal............................................... 3-0:50
S.Jennings 93 kickoff return (J.Breech kick)............ 3-0:34
J.Rice 14 pass from J.Montana (M.Cofer kick) ...... 4-14:03
J.Breech 40 field goal .............................................. 4-3:20
J.Taylor 10 pass from J.Montana (M.Cofer kick) ..... 4-0:34
HISTORY
BENGALS
B.Esiason
SUBSTITUTES
Mike Cofer, Bruce Collie, Greg Cox, Riki Ellison, Terrence Flagler,
Terry Greer, Ron Heller, Barry Helton, Tom Holmoe, Pierce Holt,
Brent Jones, Sam Kennedy, Pete Kugler, Bubba Paris, Darryl Pollard,
Bill Romanowski, Jeff Stover, Daniel Stubbs, Harry Sydney, Chuck
Thomas, Mike Wilson, Eric Wright.
16
20
CINCINNATI SAN FRANCISCO
First downs ..................................................... 13.............................23
Total net yards ............................................... 229...........................453
Net yards rushing .......................................... 106...........................112
Net yards passing.......................................... 123...........................341
Sacks against-yards lost ..............................5-21......................... 4-16
Passes-completions-interceptions ......... 25-11-1....................36-23-0
Punts-avg. yards .......................................5-44.2...................... 4-37.0
Penalties-yards ............................................7-65......................... 4-32
Fumbles-lost ..................................................1-0........................... 4-1
Time of possession .................................... 32:36........................27:24
BENGALS
I.Woods
J.Brooks
S.Jennings
B.Esiason
DEFENSE
LE
Larry Roberts
NT
Michael Carter
RE
Kevin Fagan
LOLB Charles Haley
LILB Jim Fahnhorst
RILB Mike Walter
ROLB Keena Turner
LCB Tim McKyer
RCB Don Griffin
SS
Jeff Fuller
FS
Ronnie Lott
—
—
Missed FG: M.Cofer, S.F. (19L, 49R). Attendance: 75,129. Time:
3:24.
San Francisco 49ers
OFFENSE
WR John Taylor
LT
Steve Wallace
LG
Jesse Sapolu
C
Randy Cross
RG Guy McIntyre
RT
Harris Barton
TE
John Frank
WR Jerry Rice
QB
Joe Montana
RB
Roger Craig
RB
Tom Rathman
3
14
2006 REVIEW
SUBSTITUTES
Leo Barker, Ed Brady, Jim Breech, Barney Bussey, Cris Collinsworth,
Rickey Dixon, David Douglas, Eddie Edwards, David Grant, Ira
Hillary, Ray Horton, Stanford Jennings, Lee Johnson, Emanuel
King, Marc Logan, Skip McClendon, Carl Parker, Jim Riggs, Jim
Rourke, Turk Schonert, Daryl Smith, Dave Smith.
TEAM
S.F. —
CIN —
CIN —
S.F. —
CIN —
S.F. —
CIN —
S.F. —
10
3
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
OFFENSE
WR Tim McGee
LT
Anthony Muñoz
LG
Bruce Reimers
C
Bruce Kozerski
RG Max Montoya
RT
Brian Blados
TE
Rodney Holman
WR Eddie Brown
QB
Boomer Esiason
HB
James Brooks
FB
Ickey Woods
3
0
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
LINEUPS
Cincinnati Bengals
VETERANS
NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle termed it the most exciting of the first 23 games in Super Bowl history, and the result regained some
respect for the AFC, which had lost the last four contests by an average of more than 27 points. But the dominant emotion of the day
still was heartbreak for head coach Sam Wyche’s underdog Bengals, who took a 16-13 lead with 3:20 to play on Jim Breech’s 40-yard
FG before succumbing to a 92-yard, 11-play TD drive led by San Francisco QB Joe Montana. WR John Taylor’s game-winning 10-yard
TD catch from Montana came with just 34 seconds remaining. Never before had a Super Bowl been won on a TD so late in the game.
Cincinnati played without FB Stanley Wilson, who was suspended for a substance abuse violation that occurred the night before
the game. In addition, the Bengals played almost the entire contest without All-Pro NT Tim Krumrie, who suffered a severe broken
leg early in the first quarter.
The teams were tied 3-3 at halftime, tied again at 6-6 late in the third quarter, and then swapped TDs in quick succession. A
93-yard kickoff return by Cincinnati’s Stanford Jennings was countered by a four-play San Francisco TD drive. The third of Breech’s
three FGs gave Cincinnati its third lead of the day before Montana’s final heroics saved the day for the 49ers. San Francisco WR Jerry
Rice tied a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions (still tied; originally set by Bengals TE Dan Ross in Super Bowl XVI) for 215 yards
and one TD, earning the game’s MVP award. Montana completed 23 of 36 passes for 357 yards, two TDs and no INTs. The victory
made San Francisco the first NFC team to win three Super Bowls.
ROSTERS
Jan. 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium (Miami, Fla.)
— 217 —
Book 1.indb 217
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
BENGALS UNIFORMS — THEN & NOW
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
RECORDS
HISTORY
2006 REVIEW
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
VETERANS
ROSTERS
1968-79 — THE ORIGINAL
The original Bengals uniform pictured here debuted when the team began play in the modern-era American Football
League in 1968, and it defined the team’s appearance well beyond the AFL’s merger with the National Football League in
1970. Except for its socks and shoes, this uniform remained unchanged for 12 seasons through 1979.
The helmet was orange with a gray facemask. Simple in design, it had “Bengals” arched across both sides in block
letters. The letters were black with a thin white outline.
This original uniform had both a black
jersey and a white jersey. The black jersey had
1968-79
one orange stripe surrounded by two white
stripes on each sleeve. Its uniform numbers
were white block numerals, appearing
on both the front and back. Likewise, its
nameplate had white block letters. The white
jersey had an orange stripe surrounded by
black stripes on each sleeve, its uniform
numbers were black block numerals on the
front and back, and it had black block letters
on the nameplate.
The team wore the same white pants
with both the black and white jerseys of this
uniform. The pants had one orange stripe
surrounded by two black stripes on the side
of each leg. The stripes ran the full length
of the legs.
For its first seven seasons, the team
wore two sock designs, based on whether it
was wearing a black or a white jersey. With
black jerseys, the team wore black-topped
socks — white socks with a black top from
the rim to the bottom of the calf. In the middle
of the black top appeared one orange stripe
surrounded by two white stripes, matching
the striping pattern on the black jersey’s
sleeves. With white jerseys, the team wore
white socks with mid-calf striping that
matched the pants and the white jersey’s
NOTE: The socks pictured here
sleeves — one orange stripe surrounded
were worn from 1968-74 only.
by two black stripes.
The team wore the socks pictured here
through 1974. In 1975, the team began wearing only one sock design, regardless of whether it was wearing a black or a
white jersey. That sock, pictured with the 1980 uniform illustration on the following page, was white, and at its mid-calf
had one black stripe surrounded by two orange stripes.
The team primarily wore black shoes through 1973, and white shoes in 1974 and thereafter.
Interesting facts from this uniform era:
• Black shoes were in — then out of — style, and now they’re back again: During this time period,
neither the AFL nor the NFL had rules requiring players on the same teams to wear shoes of the same color. In the
franchise’s first six seasons through 1973, most Bengals players chose to wear black shoes. In 1974, the team’s
dominant shoe color shifted to white. Not until 1990 did the NFL begin to regulate shoe colors. To help standardize
uniforms, the league required each team to select a primary shoe color. The Bengals chose white, since that was still
the players’ color of choice at the time. The white shoes continued to remain in place through 2003. At the players’
request, the team switched back to black shoes with its 2004 uniform redesign.
• Incorrect stripes were placed on cold-weather jersey: For the entire run of this uniform, the stripes on
the sleeves of the official Bengals jersey were slightly separated, while the stripes on the sides of the legs and around
the calves of the socks were joined together. However, in wintry conditions throughout this time period, the team often
wore special cold-weather versions of its jersey that had long sleeves extending to mid-forearm. Due to an oversight in
the designing process at the manufacturer, the stripes on the cold-weather jersey were joined, just like the striping on
— 218 —
Book 1.indb 218
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
VETERANS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2006 REVIEW
HISTORY
RECORDS
While the overall original appearance remained intact, the Bengals’ uniform underwent four alterations in 1980 to
constitute a subtle — yet noticeable — uniform change.
On the helmet, the team made two alterations — it switched facemask colors from gray to black, and added black
uniform numbers on the back. On the jersey, the team added uniform numbers to the sides of the sleeves, just above the
existing stripes. And on the pants, the orange
stripe was widened to about twice its original
1980
thickness, though the width of the surrounding
black stripes remained the same.
The socks pictured here — white, with one
black stripe surrounded by two orange stripes
at its mid-calf — had actually been the team’s
lone sock design since 1975.
Interesting facts from this uniform
era:
•Television changed football,
including the uniforms: The popularity of
professional football grew immensely from the
1960s through the ’80s, and much of the NFL’s
progress throughout that era was attributed
to significant television exposure. Television
changed the game in many ways, both
substantially and minutely. When the Bengals
added uniform numbers to the sides of their
jersey sleeves in 1980, they were following a
slow, evolving uniform design trend that started
in the mid-1960s as a result of the league’s
desire to become more viewer-friendly on
television. In fact, uniform numbers that were
added to sleeves or shoulders were referred to
as “TV numbers,” since their placement was
intended to aid broadcast announcers and
viewers in quickly identifying players from
various camera angles. The league did not have
a rule requiring teams to place TV numbers on
NOTE: The socks pictured
uniforms until 1991, though by that time nearly
here were worn from 1975-80.
all uniforms already had them. Also in 1980, the
Bengals added uniform numbers to the team’s
helmet. Those numbers, however, were affixed
for the purpose of quickly identifying which player a helmet belonged to if it was taken off and set down during a game.
There still is no league rule requiring teams to place uniform numbers on helmets.
• The new pants were official in 1980, but debuted in ’79: While the Bengals did not officially add the pants
with the widened orange stripe to their uniform until 1980, that design actually appeared on a limited trial basis in 1979.
The 1979 trials were not team-wide, with only a few players wearing the new design during select games that season.
ROSTERS
1980 — THE CHANGE BEFORE THE STRIPES
STAFF
the pants and the socks. The discrepancy was never corrected. The cold-weather jersey was worn as needed through
the late-1970s. When the uniform was changed in 1980 — and again in ’81 — the team chose not to create another
cold-weather jersey. In wintry conditions from that point on, players instead wore jerseys with normal-length sleeves on
top of long-sleeve undershirts.
(continued)
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
— 219 —
Book 1.indb 219
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
ROSTERS
VETERANS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2006 REVIEW
HISTORY
RECORDS
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
1981-96 — THE STRIPES
In 1981, the Bengals introduced a bold new uniform which was dramatically different than the relatively conservative
designs the team had used since 1968.
Perhaps the most eye-catching distinction of the complete makeover was the team’s new helmet. The helmet
remained orange and retained its
black facemask, but replacing the
1981-96
block-letter “Bengals” logotype
were the team’s new signature tiger
stripes. Six black tiger stripes were
placed on the helmet, extending
from one side to the other.
Paul Brown, the team’s founder
who then held the title of Vice
President and General Manager, said
the team wanted a helmet that would
be instantly identifiable with the
Cincinnati franchise, something akin
to the Baltimore Colts’ horseshoe
helmet and the San Diego Chargers’
lightning bolt helmet.
“You couldn’t read ‘Bengals’ on
our helmet from a distance,” Brown
said at the time. “When you were
far away, it looked like Cleveland’s
helmet.”
The black jersey, the white
jersey and the white pants of the
new uniform featured a black tigerstripe pattern on top of a wide orange
stripe. On the jerseys, the pattern
appeared on the shoulders. On the
pants, it extended straight down the
full length of each leg.
In addition, the uniform
numbers on the front and back, as
well as those on sides of the sleeves,
were given orange outlines. The
letters on the players’ nameplates,
however, remained solid color
— white on the black jersey, and black on the white jersey — and were not given outlines.
The new uniform was assigned orange-topped socks — white socks with an orange top from the rim to the bottom
of the calf. The team’s primary shoe color remained white.
Interesting facts from this uniform era:
• Sleeves became shorter over time: From when the Bengals began play in 1968 through the mid-’80s, the
length of the sleeves on the team’s official jerseys were somewhat long by today’s standards, reaching to just above the
elbow. In 1987, sleeves began to be shortened to the current-day length, reaching only to mid-biceps. By 1991, all of the
team’s jerseys were made with the shorter sleeves, and the original elbow-length sleeves were never produced again.
• NFL marks were added in 1991: Not pictured here, small NFL shield logos were added to the Bengals’ helmets,
jerseys and pants in 1991. All NFL teams added the logos as part of a minor league-wide alteration. On the helmets,
the shields appeared in the rear left area. On the jerseys, it appeared on the front center of the collar. And on the pants,
it was placed on the front left area just below the waist. In 2002, the NFL Equipment logo replaced the shield logos on
the jerseys and the pants, though the shield remained on the helmet. Though they are not included on these 1981-96
uniform illustrations, the shield and equipment logos are incorporated into the 1997-2003 and ’04-present illustrations
on the following two pages, respectively.
• The stripes did not remain entirely the same: The black tiger-stripe patterns on the shoulders of the jersey
and the legs of the pants during this era did not always perfectly match those on the illustrations pictured here. Though
hardly noticeable, the patterns differed slightly from one uniform manufacturer to the next. In most cases, the stripes
were less wide and more numerous. At the time, minor variations of this nature were considered acceptable as long as
they were negligible and did not change the overall appearance of the uniform design.
— 220 —
Book 1.indb 220
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
VETERANS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2006 REVIEW
HISTORY
RECORDS
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
(continued)
ROSTERS
In 1997, the Bengals introduced alterations to their uniform which were termed “evolutionary, not revolutionary.”
While the helmet remained unchanged and the general look of the uniform remained intact, several modifications were
made on the jerseys, pants and socks.
Perhaps the most notable of the changes was the addition of the team’s new leaping tiger logo on the sleeves of the jersey.
Because the new logo was placed where uniform numbers previously had been, the numbers on the sleeves were moved
to the tops of the shoulders.
Also on the jersey, the black
1997-2003
tiger-stripe patterns on the
shoulders were simplified with
wider stripes. The white jersey was
altered further to include black trim
on the sleeves and collar. And the
letters on the nameplates of both
the black jersey and white jersey
were given orange outlines to match
the jersey numbers, which had
been given orange outlines in the
uniform’s 1981 redesign.
On the pants, the black tigerstripe patterns on the sides of the
legs were simplified with wider
stripes to match the new jersey
stripes. And, the orange-topped
socks the team had been wearing
since 1981 were replaced by blacktopped socks.
Interesting facts from this
uniform era:
NOTE: These black
pants were worn in
• Another not so noticetwo games in 2003
able change was made in
only (see 20041997: There was another alteration
present
interesting
Process Color
fact on the following
made with this Bengals uniform
page).
change — not in design, but in
makeup. All of the jersey numbers
Textile Color
and the letters of the nameplates
were converted from printed images
to stitched fabric. The stitched
fabric process — called “tackle
twill” — produced more vivid
colors, and the result was much
more durable. With the nameplate
letters and the jersey numerals altered to tackle twill, the black tiger-stripe pattern on the shoulders and pants were the
only remaining printed items. The tiger stripes were not changed because the additional stitching required for tackle
twill would have significantly reduced the elasticity of the ends of the shoulders and the sides of the pants. And, since
those were considered high-stretch areas, the print process remained the better choice for the tiger stripes.
• Incorrect stripes were placed on 1999 pants: Two years after the Bengals made the 1997 alterations, a
new manufacturer of the uniforms mistakenly produced pants with the previous tiger-stripe pattern that was used from
1981-96. The discrepancy was considered minor, since most of the 1997 alterations had occurred on the jersey. In fact,
the mistake wasn’t even noticed until after the 1999 season had started. Thus, the team wore the incorrectly-striped pants
for the rest of the season, and the error was corrected for the following year.
STAFF
1997-2003 — THE UPDATED STRIPES
— 221 —
Book 1.indb 221
7/22/2007 10:09:07 AM
STAFF
ROSTERS
VETERANS
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
2006 REVIEW
HISTORY
RECORDS
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
2004-PRESENT — THE NEW STRIPES
For the first time in 23 years and just the second time in team history, the Bengals’ uniform underwent a complete
redesign in 2004.
The team’s signature tiger-striped helmet, widely considered among the most distinctive in football since its introduction
in 1981, was not altered. The changes to the rest of the new uniform, however, were numerous.
The most noticeable differences from the previous design were the additions of a third jersey, a second pant and a
second sock. To supple2004-PRESENT
ment its regular black
and white jerseys, the
team added a specialoccasion orange jersey
which could be worn
in up to two games per
year. Black pants were
added to the lineup,
marking the first time in
team history that pants
of a color other than
white were officially part
of the team’s uniform.
And, the orange-topped
sock — worn in the
1981-96 uniform era
— returned to the
lineup as a mix-andmatch option, joining
the black-topped sock
introduced in ’97.
All three jerseys
displayed a new tigerstripe pattern on the
shoulders. The black
jersey featured orange
sleeves, and orange
trim on the sleeves
and collar. The white
and orange jerseys had
black sleeves, with black
sleeve and collar trim.
The sleeves of all three
jerseys were given white
undersides. On the black and orange jerseys, the white undersides on the sleeves continued as wide stripes down the sides.
Modern, more rounded numerals replaced the block-letter uniform numbers that had adorned Bengals jerseys of
the past, and the orange outline on the new numbers was given a shadow effect. In addition, the leaping tiger logo was
removed from the sleeve, while the team’s new striped “B” logo was placed in the center of the chest area, just below
the neckline.
Both pants featured a new tiger-stripe pattern on the sides of the legs. However, unlike the old stripes, the new stripes
did not extend straight down the full length of the legs. Instead, the new stripes curved slightly forward to a point just
above the knees.
Lastly, the team chose to revert its shoe color from white to black, which had been the primary shoe color from
1968-73.
Interesting fact from this uniform era:
• 2004 black pants were the first to be official, but not the first to be worn: The Bengals’ uniform officially
included black pants for the first time in team history in 2004. However, 2004 did not mark the first time the team had worn
black pants in a game. A year before, in 2003, the team was granted by the NFL the option to use black pants in two games
as part of the redesign process that resulted in the new 2004 uniform. The team exercised that option, wearing black pants
on a temporary trial basis for both their 2003 regular-season opener and finale. Those 2003 black pants, however, possessed
the team’s older tiger-stripe pattern of that era (see 1997-2003 illustrations on previous page), and were never worn again.
The black pants that were permanently added to the lineup in 2004 were updated with the new tiger-stripe pattern.
— 222 —
Book 1.indb 222
7/22/2007 10:09:08 AM
STAFF
BENGALS LOGOS — THEN & NOW
1967-69 — RUNNING TIGER
ROSTERS
VETERANS
The Cincinnati Bengals franchise was founded in 1967, a year
before it began play in the modern-era American Football
League. For its first logo, the team chose a caricature of
a tiger, running with a football under its right arm. Flying
off the tiger’s head was a white helmet with another
tiger’s head painted on its side.
The team used this logo while they were members of the AFL
through the 1969 season, though the logo never appeared on the
team’s uniform.
1970-80 — BLOCK-LETTERED HELMET
2007 DRAFT CHOICES
When the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970 — the same year the Bengals began play
in the new Riverfront Stadium (later renamed Cinergy Field) — the team’s logo shifted
from the running tiger to a representation of the helmet the players had been wearing
since the team began play in 1968.
The helmet representation, which like the real helmet was orange with “Bengals”
arched across both sides in block letters, remained the team’s logo through the 1980
season. The helmet logo, however, used much larger letters for “Bengals” than what
actually appeared on the real helmets.
1997-2003 — LEAPING TIGER
HISTORY
In 1997, the Bengals made subtle alterations to their uniforms. With the
alterations, the team unveiled a new logo of a leaping tiger which adorned
the sleeves of the uniform’s new jersey. That new leaping tiger
replaced the striped helmet as the team’s primary logo.
The leaping tiger logo, pictured here with the team’s logotype
of that era, was an illustration of an aggressive-looking orange
tiger with black stripes that matched those on the team’s helmet
and white facial accents. The leaping tiger’s head by itself was the
team’s secondary logo. In addition, the striped helmet logo also was
still commonly used.
2006 REVIEW
Prior to the Bengals’ 1981 season — the season of their first Super Bowl appearance — the
team introduced a bold new uniform that featured a distinctive, eye-catching new helmet that
was orange with six black tiger stripes extending from one side to the other. With the
uniform redesign, the team’s logo changed from a representation of the blocklettered helmet to a representation of the new striped helmet.
When it was first introduced, the striped helmet logo was a two-dimensional
side view with a two-barred face mask. By the end of the 1980s, the logo evolved
into the image pictured here — a three-dimensional angled view with a multibarred face mask. As a result of the angled view, only five of the six stripes are
visible in this striped helmet logo.
COLLEGE FREE AGENTS
1981-96 — STRIPED HELMET
RECORDS
2004-PRESENT — STRIPED “B”
STADIUM , NFL & MEDIA
The Bengals’ uniform underwent a complete redesign in 2004. As part
of the change, the team introduced a new striped “B” logo and created
a new team font. Simple in design, the logo was the new font’s letter B,
colored orange with three black tiger stripes.
The striped B was placed in the center of the team’s new jersey, just
below the neckline, while the Bengals font was used to create the team’s
new logotype. The striped B replaced the leaping tiger as the team’s
primary mark, though the leaping tiger and the leaping tiger’s head were
kept as secondary marks and are still used frequently.
— 223 —
Book 1.indb 223
7/22/2007 10:09:08 AM