What is the Cincinnati Bengals' history when it comes to the Super Bowl? Jim LeClair LeClair started as the left inside linebacker and played for the Bengals between 1972-1983. When Joe Burrow said his career is the Bengals' Super Bowl window, he wasn't kidding. He was selected to his only Pro Bowl the following season. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. A string of wild card losses later and here they are, playing to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl for the second time in as many years. Perhaps the best moment of the season for the Bengals was defeating the Raiders 3117. For the first time, a northern, cold weather climate city was picked to host a Super Bowl. Gregg passes the torch of toughness to his Bengals in the bitterly cold weather embedding Cincinnati the week of the game with ominous game day weather forecasts. Joe Burrow is from Ohio and was the teams first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Super Bowl XVI wasJan. 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome and Super Bowl XXIII was Jan. 22, 1989, atJoe Robbie Stadium,Miami, Florida. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Wright had an interception and forced a fumble. For instance, Super Bowl LIV was played in 2020, but was the championship for the 2019 season. Mark it down. Defensive end Fred Dean and linebacker Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds were big contributors up front, making it difficult for the opposing teams to rush the ball; Dean became a 49er after an in-season trade with the San Diego Chargers and piled up 12 sacks for San Francisco. The 49ers defeated the Bengals by the score of 26-21 to win their first Super Bowl. January 25, 1982 PONTIAC, Mich., Jan. 24 The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21, today to complete a three-year journey from ineptitude to glory. Finally, Montana scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, giving San Francisco a 70 lead. He also rushed 4 times for 15 yards and a score on the ground. Bo Harris In the Bengals 1981 3-4 scheme, Harris was the left outside linebacker. AFC Central Division The Super Bowl did return to Michigan for Super Bowl XL, but that game was played at Ford Field in Detroit, which, in 2002, had replaced the Pontiac Silverdome as the home site for the Detroit Lions. After returning the interception 25 yards, Wright fumbled while being tackled by Bengals guard Max Montoya, but San Francisco linebacker Willie Harper recovered the ball at the Bengals' 22. It was a brutal loss for the Bengals and the third Super Bowl win for the 49ers franchise. Post-football, he was a sports agent, founded Courts 4 Sports in Mason and has appeared on radioon 700WLW's Bengals programming. Prior to Super Bowl XXIII, he took part in a televised NFL talent contest showing off his talents as a singer. The NFL Combine Finally Opened Up Workouts to Media, Revealing More About the NFL Than Draft Prospects, The 2023 NFL Draft Safety Class Has Versatility Which Represents Both Talent and Temptation, 2023 NFL Combine Results: Bench Press, 40-Yard Dash, Vertical, 3-Cone, and More, Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott Has a Lot on His Plate Following Leslie Fraziers Departure. On Jan. 22, 1989, t he Bengals fell to those same 49ers, 20-16, in. Not too bad for a tight end no ones heard of if you ask me. McInally also developed Starting Lineup action figures in 1986. The Bengals threatened to score early in the second quarter when they advanced across the San Francisco 30-yard line. Cincinnati Bengals, American professional gridiron football team that plays in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). (AP Photo), Gregg allows gloves but left guard Dave Lapham famously thinks his Bengals O-line should go sleeveless even as the mercury hovers at 9 below. The University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame member is a board-certified trial lawyer. It is the second coldest game in NFL history. All Rights Reserved. Ross caught 11 passes (the most ever by a tight end in a Super Bowl) and he was tied for the most receptions in a Super Bowl with Jerry Rice (who tied Ross' record in the Super Bowl rematch 7 years later), Deion Branch, and Wes Welker until Demaryius Thomas broke that record in Super Bowl XLVIII with 13 catches. Bengals fans definitely do. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. (AP Photo), Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, left, reacts as San Diego Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts, right, looks dejected after the Bengals defeated the Chargers in the AFC championship in Cincinnati on Jan. 10, 1982. Following the touchdown came a squib kick by kicker Ray Wersching that was finally recovered by Bengal receiver David Verser, who was quickly tackled at the 2-yard line. Hes a stellar receiver with some amazing skills. This was also the only Super Bowl to date between two teams who had losing records the previous season, although Super Bowl XXXIV matched a team that had a losing record in 1998 (St. Louis Rams) against a team that finished a mediocre 88 that year (Tennessee Titans). and I saw that he could so I let him wear them. This was the first Super Bowl to feature two first-time participants since Super Bowl III (there has been only one since, Super Bowl XX between the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots). Charles Alexander The former LSU back had 2,645 yards for the Bengals between 1979-1985. Injured for Super Bowl XXIII, he still makes local media appearances as well as being a spokesman for Goodwill Industries. Join our linker program. "I mean regular gloves, just like you would wear around driving your car or something. Anthony Munoz The left tackle was in the second season of his NFL Hall of Fame career. From there, quarterback Joe Montana led the 49ers offense to the Cincinnati 47-yard line with three consecutive completions. Wersching then kicked his fourth field goal to increase the 49ers' lead to 2614 with less than 2 minutes left in the game. However, he was never voted into the Pro Bowl, nor was he inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, which is a contentious point among Bengals fans. The 49ers had handily beaten the Bengals in a December game played in Cincinnati and consequently were installed as a 1-point favorite. Cincinnati had the fewest turnovers of any team during the 1981 season with 24, while San Francisco ranked second with 25. Patton was the game's leading rusher with 55 yards on 17 carries. But hes come back strong and ready to play this year. During the season, both teams had shown impressive ball security. Jim Breech Again, three field goals in Super Bowl XXIII may have earned him MVP honors, but after spotting actor John Candy on the sidelines, Joe Montana led the Niners on a drive that left Cincinnati short with 34 seconds to go. The Bengals earned their first playoff victory in team history by defeating the Buffalo Bills 2821, then beating the San Diego Chargers 277 in a game known as the Freezer Bowl because of the 59 wind chill conditions at Riverfront Stadium. Pro Football Network, LLC. The game was one of the most watched broadcasts in American television history, with more than 85 million viewers. Up with People provided the halftime entertainment featuring a salute to the 1960s and Motown. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Cincinnati's 356 yards of offense to San Francisco's 275 marked the first time in Super Bowl history that a team which was outgained in total yards won. Bergman, Beeks, Swanson and Hakes all worked together on the same crew during the regular season, a rarity. Before we start, lets set the rules for the selection process. The game was played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. Anthony Munoz is easily the best lineman the team has ever had. All frozen together in a historic tableau known as "The Freezer Bowl." He was with the Bengals as a player from 1971-1986 and then again as a coach from 1993-2002. Tim Krumrie A 10th-round draft pick out of Wisconsin, Krumrie played from 1984 to 1993. He was a Bengal from 1986 to 1992, making the Pro Bowl three times. Tobin, son of legendary NFL architect (the 1985 Bears, kids) and Bengals scout Bill Tobin, has the family back in the Super Bowl with a nimble draft room he has rigged with early 21st century . (AP Photo), Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Louis Breedon, right, intercepts a pass to San Diego Chargers receiver Charlie Joinor, left, to break up a second quarter drive by the Chargers in Cincinnati on Jan. 10, 1982. And the only way to begin celebrating the 40th anniversary of 1981's highly-ranked . (AP Photo), Shirtless Cincinnati Bengals fans are joined by another in a snowmobile suit as they cheer on the Bengals in the AFC championship game against the San Diego Chargers in Cincinnati, Jan. 10, 1982. Ken Anderson | QB Below are all the NFL teams that have won two or more Super Bowls. The domed stadium saved the crowd at the game from the cold and snowy weather, but the weather did affect traffic and other logistical issues related to the game. "But I remember thinking, 'what are we doing out here?'" South Florida would not be selected to host another Super Bowl until Joe Robbie Stadium was built, and it hosted XXIII.[12][13]. Joe Montana hit Jerry Rice to tie the game on the next play. XFL Fantasy Football Rankings Week 2: Josh Gordon, Jeff Badet, Max Borghi, and More, Final Fantasy PPR Rankings for the NFL Playoffs: Tony Pollard, Ezekiel Elliott, James Cook, and More, NFL All-Time RB Records: Season and Career Leaders, College football Week 6 live reactions, results, and takeaways. In recent years he was the head football coach at Cincinnati Christian High School and briefly was head coach at Cincinnati Christian University. He was also a good receiver out of the backfield, catching 46 passes for another 320 yards and 4 touchdowns. [19] The minimums are shown (in parenthesis). Knee injuries curtailed his career by 1991. The win gives the Bengals their first Super Bowl position. The Bengals looked like they had a grasp on the game when they scored 10-straight points coming out of the half. Woods had 79 yards rushing in the game. This was the only playoff loss by the Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. The last remaining active member of the 1982 Cincinnati Bengals was tight end Rodney Holman, who retired after the 1995 season. After football, Lapham entered the media and has been the long-time color analyst on the Bengals Radio Network. At left tackle, Munoz protected Anderson in Super Bowl XVI and Boomer Esiason later on in Super Bowl XXII. Frequently Asked Questions about the NFL and Football, Pro-Football-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Football: Get your first month FREE. Montana's next two completions to Clark (his 4th and final reception of the game) and Solomon moved the ball to the 5-yard line. Temperature at the game was minus 9 degrees. The Cincinnati Bengals break out in celebration after defeating the San Diego Chargers 27-7 in the AFC championship game in Cincinnati, Jan. 10, 1982. Esiason finished his Bengals career third all-time in passing with 27,149 yards. Forrest GreggIn the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player, Gregg coached the Bengals between 1980-1983. But then Montana threw two straight incompletions, forcing the 49ers to settle for Wersching's 22-yard field goal to increase their lead to 170. January 24, 1982 - San Francisco 49ers 26 vs. Cincinnati Bengals 21 - Super Bowl XVI. The coin toss ceremony featured Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne, a star with the Lions from 1950 to 1958. Collinsworth was a rookie in 1981 and helped the team to their 12-4 record on the back of his 1,009 yards receiving on 67 catches. Super Bowl 56 will make history for the Bengals franchise as they face a team other than the San Francisco 49ers for the first time. Join our linker program. The play Cooper scored on had not been called by Bill Walsh for two years. Three-year veteran defensive back Dwight Hicks led the team with nine interceptions, which he returned for 239 yards and a touchdown, giving the secondary a total of 23. Three of Cincinnati's turnovers helped San Francisco build a then-Super Bowl record 200 halftime lead, off a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown from quarterback Joe Montana and two field goals by Ray Wersching. WATCH: Cincinnati Bengals starters from Super Bowls XVI, XXIII, Here are the Cincinnati Bengals starters from Super Bowls XVI and XXIII, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. After exchanging another field goal each in the third quarter, Stanford Jennings broke the game open with a 93-yard kickoff return touchdown. On special teams, punter Pat McInally made the Pro Bowl with a 45.4 yards-per-punt average. Reggie WilliamsThe former Charterite city councilman started at right outside linebacker as he did in Super Bowl XVI. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Dave Lapham's biceps. 1 seed. However, Anderson threw an incomplete pass on first down, then was sacked by defensive end Jim Stuckey on second down for a 6-yard loss. The game was televised in the United States by CBS and featured the broadcast team of play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall and color commentator John Madden (the latter making his Super Bowl debut as a broadcaster). Another former Ohio State quarterback who has been compared to Burrow appreciates the comparison. The Bengals faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI on January 24, 1982. The following is a refresher of starting lineups and notable reserve players from each bowl game. He was a Bengal from 1987-1992 and part of their SWAT-team secondary. The pregame festivities featured the University of Michigan Band. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Cincinnati Bengals tight end (89) Dan Ross celebrates his 3-yard 4th quarter touchdown during Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers at the Silverdome. The 49ers won 26-21 thanks to quarterback Joe Montana, but the Bengals' offense definitely put up a fight. Montana threw for 157 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for another 18 yards and a touchdown. This seemed to fire up Cincinnati's defense, which limited the 49ers to only 8 plays and 4 offensive yards for the entire third quarter. Cincinnati head coach Forrest Gregg became the first man to play in a Super Bowl and then be a head coach in a Super Bowl. Tom Flores was on the Kansas City Chiefs' roster in Super Bowl IV and coached in Super Bowl XV. Blair Bush The former first-round pick played in the NFL for 17 seasons for the Bengals, Seahawks, Packers and Rams. 1982 Super Bowl XVI 49ers Vs Bengals Mini Mega Ticket. Anderson is the only NFL QB with wins on two different planets. 3Long gain "Honestly, I was playing a grabber," Lapham says when he also reminisces on the 20th anniversary. The game itself was largely a battle of field goals, but Esiason was the lone bright spot on offense. Fuller gained 35 yards on 4 punt returns. The Bengals had two Super Bowl runs in the 1980s, advancing to Super Bowl XVI in 1982 and Super Bowl XXIII in 1989. . The 49ers' success surprised many because they finished with a 610 record during the previous season and a 214 record in 1979 (they even still had home blackouts early on in the 1981 season, the last blackouts for the 49ers to date). Just a year after the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl only to be beaten by the Rams, they're back in the AFC Championship Game against the same team they beat last season: The Kansas City Chiefs. "That was the difference," Muoz says. Naturally, Harris gloves the first touchdown of the day on eight-yard pass from quarterback Ken Anderson for a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter and Bengaldom begins to feel the thaw. Spirals. In the Super Bowl, the score was tied at 3 at the half, with neither team really doing much on offense. I was thinking I didn't want him grabbing any cloth. (AP Photo), Their breath made visible by sub-zero temperatures, fans cheer during the AFC championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers in Cincinnati, Jan. 11, 1982. He led Holy Cross to aKentucky High School Athletic Association Division 2A state title in 2011. Currently, the Patriots and Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six, while the 49ers and Cowboys trail closely behind with five.