The Bengals were founded in 1966 as a member of the American Football League (AFL) by former Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown.

In 1981, Anderson was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player and set Super Bowl records for most passes completed (25) and highest completion percentage (73.5%).

On August 29, 2008, Johnson legally changed his name to Ochocinco ("eight five" in Spanish to match his jersey number.). On July 24, 2012, Ochocinco legally changed his name back to Johnson.

San Francisco punt returner John Taylor misplayed punter Lee Johnson's kick, and it sailed over his head, bouncing all the way to the 49ers 9-yard line to make it a then-Super Bowl record 63-yard punt. But Taylor made up for his mistake by chasing the ball down and returning it for a then-Super Bowl record 45 yards to the Bengals 46.

At six feet, five inches in height, Collinsworth often created mismatches against much smaller cornerbacks.

In 2007, Houshmandzadeh finished with a franchise record 112 receptions for 1,143 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Bengals' loyalty clause, or "Carl Pickens clause", was instituted after the wide receiver signed a five-year, $23.3 million contract in 1999 and criticized the Bengals later that season for retaining coach Bruce Coslet. It allows them to withhold signing bonuses if players insult the organization in public.

After a horrific leg injury in Super Bowl XXIII, DT Tim Krumrie had a 15-inch steel rod surgically implanted to stabilize his leg. He played six more seasons and retired as the team's career leader in tackles.

Cincinnati defeated Seattle and then Buffalo in the playoffs to reach Super Bowl XXIII, their second appearance in a Super Bowl, a rematch with the San Francisco 49ers. In the game, Bengals cornerback Lewis Billups dropped a sure interception in the end zone which would have sealed a Cincinnati win.

Paul Brown Stadium is nicknamed "The Jungle," an allusion not only to the Bengal tiger's natural habitat, but also the Guns N' Roses song "Welcome to the Jungle".