To mark the team’s anniversary here are 13 things to know about the franchise history:
From Brown to Bengal. Paul Brown founded and was the first head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. He coached the team from 1968 to 1975. Prior to his move to the Queen City, Brown coached the Cleveland Browns from 1946 to 1962. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
Honoring the past. Brown named the team in honor of an earlier team called the Cincinnati Bengals that was formed in Cincinnati in 1937.
The very first. The first player on the Cincinnati Bengals team was quarterback John Stofa. He was traded from the Miami Dolphins for two draft choices in December 1967. Stofa played during the 1968 and 1969 seasons.
Preseason show. The first game was a preseason event played against the Kansas City Chiefs at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium in front of 21,682 fans Aug. 3, 1968. The Chief's won the game, 38-14.
The first game. The Bengals played the San Diego Chargers in the first regular-season game Sept. 6, 1968 in San Diego. The Bengals lost, 29-13.
Take that Denver. The first regular season victory was against the Denver Broncos in front of a crowd of 25,049 at UC's Nippert Stadium. The final score was 24-10.
Playing on a university field. The Bengals played their first two seasons at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium. In 1970 the team moved to Riverfront Stadium and shared the space with the Cincinnati Reds. The stadium's name was changed to Cinergy Field in 1996.
Bone-chilling play. The Bengals played in the second-coldest NFL game on record. The temperature dropped to minus-9 degrees on Jan. 10, 1982 at Riverfront Stadium. Despite the frigid temperatures, the Bengals beat San Diego, 27-7.
Running up the score. The two highest-scoring games in Bengals history were against Cleveland. On Nov. 28, 2004 the Bengals beat the Browns, 58-48. Three years later, on Sept. 16, 2007, Cincinnati lost to Cleveland, 51-45.
Home sweet home. The Bengals' current home, Paul Brown Stadium, opened in 2000. The site covers 22 acres and stands 157 high. The stadium has a seating capacity of 65,515. It has 132 suites and 7,600 club seats.
Big and bad. The stadium is made from 95,000 cubic yards of concrete and more than 9,100 tons of structural steel. There are 330 miles of electrical wiring and more than 1,438,000 square feet of drywall.
What's in a name? Twenty-three players have had the last name Johnson on the all-time roster. The most infamous may be Chad Johnson, who changed his last name to Ochocinco in 2008 and back to Johnson in 2011.
A real cool cat. "Who Dey," an orange striped Bengal tiger, is the team's mascot. According to the Bengals organization, his favorite book is Maurice Sendak's classic, "Where the Wild Things Are," and his favorite song is "Welcome to the Jungle." His favorite foods are fried raven, dried dawg toast and salted steelers.
ABOUT THIS FEATURE
HISTORY EXTRA is a weekly pictorial history feature showcasing the Miami Valley’s rich heritage. If you have a unique set of historic photos found in your parents’ or grandparents’ attic that depicts the past in the Miami Valley, contact Lisa Powell at 937-225-2229 or at Lisa.Powell@coxinc.com.
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