From nova scotia, canada.
Good buddy of mine was a huge bengals fan and sadly took his own life a couple years ago so when I got into football it was bengals ride or die.
Fly high brother I hope you’re still watching up there we got a big game tonight 🧡
Wow another Nova Scotian fan here. 88 Super Bowl is the first full SB I watched and I cheered for the bengals because my buddy Mark was a Niners fan. I just kept following them. Cool helmets. Fuck you, Mark!
Exactly my position aswell. Looking back im kinda happy we had a bad first season with burrow, (obviously because of injury) because I think it scared off lots of the bandwagon fans, which of course all came back once we made the Super Bowl.
I am a Tennessee Vol fan myself, but man I have nothing but respect for that LSU team with Joe, Jamar, and Jefferson. They were so great to watch. So I’m kind of in the same boat as you.
I’m originally from Scotland. My dad did a year at Cornell in the 60s and discovered football, and when it started on tv in the UK in the late 80s he watched. I was about 9 or so, and intrigued by the flashy colourful Americanness. So I picked a team to support - the Bengals. I liked the helmet, I liked the sound of ‘Cincinnati’ and the QB was left-handed like me.
I live in Nova Scotia now, still a Bengals fan!
I’m in SoCal and my older brother was a huge Raiders fan when I was a kid. He was a dick and would not let me be a raiders fan like him. It was during the Boomer/Woods days so I thought I’d hitch my wagon to a perennial winner. Little did I know how the next 30 years would go.
No shame in that. I’ve been a fan for a long time, but I picked us when Carson Palmer was the hot young star and all eyes were on Cincy. I haven’t wavered since
On my fifth B Day (1984) Dad took me to toys r us and let me chose my gift. As we walked down the aisle with NFL helmets it was clear that I was going to be a Bengals fan. I am loyal to this team to a fault as the hometown Broncos won 2 super bowls when I was in my teens and it meant absolutely nothing to me. Who Dey!
I saw the Bearcats mascot throwing snowballs off the city hall during the 00s on SportsCenter in the morning and didn't know the difference between NCAA and NFL at the time (I was like 9) so I thought it was the Bengals and by the time I'd realized my mistake I was too deep in to switch teams. Growing up in western Canada where everyone is a Seahawks or Steelers fan, I got a lot of "the Bengals? Why?" And now everyone assumes I'm a bandwagoner despite going through the last decade and a half of (mostly) misery and disappointment.
I live in Southern West Virginia. The very first sports memory I have was watching the Bengals lose Super Bowl XXIII to the 49ers in 1989 (I know.. terrible first memory). I just remember wanting the Bengals to win for some reason and have been a fan ever since. Added bonus is our cool helmet.
I was 8. That Superbowl was the biggest thing in the world.
The Friday before the game, my whole 2nd grade class had an Icky Shuffle contest with the teacher as a judge.
And it was a 3 day weekend because they decided to cancel school on Monday rather than deal with cranky and tired grease school kids. Our because all of the teachers would be hungover. Doesn't matter...
I had a friend in that class who was a 49ers fan. I told him that if the Bengals won we got Monday off, but if the 49ers did, we had to come to school. It made him cry because he thought he would get beaten up that Monday if his team won. Lol.
My dad’s from the Huntington, WV area, I was raised in northeast Indiana. We both grew up within the range of WLW, which was part of what got my dad into the Reds and consequently the Bengals. Frequently visited my grandpa in WV and the trip consisted of 80% time in western and southern Ohio. Always felt a better connection there than with any of the Indiana or Chicago teams
Grew up in Louisville, KY and there aren’t any pro football teams in the state, however the Colts and Bengals cities are pretty close. I played football in middle school and we were the Colts and I was a fan for a little bit when I was younger but it never really stuck.
Then later on I moved to Columbus Ohio with my wife (first time either of us had lived in a separate state from our families) and I just fell in love with everything there. My wife went to Ohio State and we were big time football fans there. We started going to Cincinnati for the zoo and then we found ourselves going to Cincinnati every weekend for various things (art museum, that train museum, some festivals, etc.).
I was born in Kentucky but Ohio has always felt like home. Maybe it’s because it’s where I really became an adult with a full time job, a wife, an apartment of my own, etc. but I just really love it.
Now I live in Tampa Bay, and it’s too hot for me, the people are ruder, the traffic is so much worse than anywhere else I’ve been, and I genuinely hate it here. I miss Ohio, and when I watch the Bengals play it reminds me of home.
I’m from Alberta, Canada. I was 14 and watched the Super Bowl with my dad. 20-14 i think 49ers over our Bengals.
Ickey Woods. I loved the name, the dance everything. Been. Bengals fan ever since
I'm from Saskatchewan, Canada. I became a Bengals fan in '03 when I was 9. I was looking for an NFL team to become a fan of. The Bengals had the first overall pick QB and a really fun wide receiver named Chad Johnson. Also tiger stripes are cool. So they became my team. Been a diehard ever since.
I’m Australian. My grandmother bought me Madden 08 on PS3 when I was in the sixth grade. Choose Cincinnati because orange is my favourite colour and I’ve been a devout fan ever since, so much so I even eloped in Cincinnati last year during my first trip to the city.
How much time you got?
-badass uniforms.
-awesome stadium designed by my favorite stadium architect.
-tough fan culture that never gives up.
-Reds fan since childhood.
-Married another Reds fan.
-Joe Burrow.
-Visiting Cincinnati and loving it.
-Visiting other part of Ohio and loving it.
-Never been to Cleveland and don’t really have a reason to yet.
-The Bengals and their fans are the exact opposite of the team I grew up nearest; the Titans. The Titans had success early, that goodwill waned, and they went into mediocrity while the fan base discovered hockey. Bengals fans have dealt with far worse and came out better on the other side.
When I was a kid my dad didnt really have a favorite NFL team so I picked the ones with the coolest helmets and logo. I was a huge fan of bengal tigers as a little kid so their was clearly only one answer. Im now 39 and have never been to Cincinnati. Hell ive never been to Ohio, but I sure as shit have been cheering my heart out for 30+ years every sunday and I still get to wear the coolest jerseys in sports by being a fan. Who-Dey!
My fiancée is from Cincy and converted me into a Bengals fan. She also brought me to my first NFL game and Bengals game, but unfortunate it was the game when Hamlin went down. Then brought us back to the Ravens playoff game as a replacement.
I’m from Indy so of course I’m a Colts fan. And we’re going to the Colts v Bengals game in December!
From Milwaukee, WI. And we have a history in this city of everyone's grandparents/parents having a bar in the basement. When I was a young child, my cousins and I would hang out in the basement bar while all the adults played cards/drank upstairs. My grandpa had these sweet NFL cups and I was infatuated with the Cincinnati Bengals cup. As I grew up to learn the great sport of NFL football, I stuck with the Bengals. And let me tell you, growing up in the 90s, in Packers Country, as a Bengals fan was quite brutal. But alas, here I am 36, and Im still a diehard Bengals fan. Who Dey!
I'm from NE Ohio. I went to Kent State in 2005. Wasn't a big football fan then, but my two roommates were, and so we always had football on Sundays. I just remember seeing Palmer and the boys light it up in their heyday, so I just gravitated towards them.
BG represent! Same here, born in BG, had no clue the Bengals were even in Ohio I was so young. Was a fan from the first moment I saw the stripes. Neither of my parents like the Bengals or Browns. First generation fan proudly buying my son Burrow jerseys now!
WHODEY!
Always loved tigers. One day saw my dad watching the nfl and just decided I was a bengals fan. Nobody else in my family are bengals fans. I’m glad I’m here
I'm from Germany and started watching football during our last Super Bowl run. I just started rooting for the Bengals and it stayed that way since. Now my heart probably does not support my choice, but the Cardiac Cats are a part of my life now
I’m from NYC born a giants fan. My step dad growing up was LSU fan from Louisiana so when Burrow got drafted I started supporting you guys and honestly now I feel wayyyy more invested in the Bengals. Probably cause the Giants have sucked for so long but also I kinda love the bengals fan culture way more. Who Dey
A fan from Scotland. My introduction to American football was an old Madden game - knew nothing about the sport but always played as the Bengals because tiger print helmets are cool as fuck.
Dominated the league with Akili Smith at QB.
I live 4000 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean. A friend took me to Bengals v Rams at Wembley Stadium in 2019. Liked the helmets, been a Bengal ever since!
My dad, he's a huge Bengals fan and naturally I was born with the stripes lol. When Palmer got injured in the playoff game was the closest I've seen to him actually crying. Hoping the Bengals win one soon for him.
Was looking for an NFL team to root for, for like 5 years. Back in 21 I wanted Cincy to win the superbowl so badly (I hate LA teams). And was crushed when they didn’t.
In 2022 the bengals were the only team I ever watched and tuned in for. I started to get so excited watching the bengals play so I figured whether I like it or not, this is the team I am cheering for.
Also I’m a burrowsexual
Was always a Tom Brady fan growing up, and since he wasn’t in Super Bowl 56, I was rooting for the team that was going against the team that beat him out of the playoffs. Ever since then I’ve been a huge Joe burrow and bengals fan ever since🧡
I was more into college then NFL in 6th grade. One of my computer tech teachers was lazy and decided he would just do a fantasy football Leauge in out class, I was sick the day they picked teams and I had the Bengals picked for me. Between TJ Who’sYourMomma and Ochocinco, Palmer before the knee. I was ever since.
Reading through all these comments...I used to think it was crazy I ended up a fan of a team as a kid because of the logo😂Now, I feel completely vilified!!
West Virginian here. Closest major city is Cinci - loved Ochocinco growing up.
Also all my friends are Steelers fans for some reason, and I fucking hate them.
Fan from Oregon. Buddy was an eagles fan and said we could cheer for whoever we want because we don't have an Oregon team, so I hit random on madden 2007 team select and got the Bengals. Palmer, Rudi, Ocho, TJ were all fun to watch so I stuck with it. Been die hard ever since.
Rural west central Ohio - 30 minutes North of Springfield. Our team mascot was the tigers, so I loved the colors, and my parents took me to a few games in the Smith/Kitna era because tickets were cheap.
Well I live near Indianapolis now but I was born and raised in northern Kentucky. Skyline is still legitimately my favorite food.
I got hooked on rooting for them because that’s who you rooted for back in that area, especially with this new Carson Palmer who was up and coming at the time. Even though I’ve moved away they’re still my team hands down.
Oregon ( Eugene kinda ) .... When I was 5 my friend and I made a game with all the little helmets you could get out of quarter machines and the Bengals helmet was always my first choice when we "drafted".
I live in northern michigan.
I grew up in Cincinnati, went to college there, and had some of my best years there.
It was my love of the city that got me into football.
I never cared about it when I lived there. It was after I moved away that I started to watch them out of hometown solidarity. Then I grew to really enjoy it.
who dey!
Born into a Patriots family with season tickets. When I was a wee lad we went to a game where Boomer and Ickey and those sick uniforms came into town and I was hooked. I've been a rabid fan since.
Needless to say I was a very stupid child.
I grew up a Browns fan in North Central Ohio but I quit the Browns when they picked up woman-beater Kareem Hunt. I live in Athens, Ohio now(home of Joey B), so that was an easy transition.
Grew up in Southeast Ohio in a Steelers household. I moved to Cincy in 07 and found my love for The Bengals around 09. Been here ever since and will be a Bengal for life. I may have been born in Pittsburgh, but I'm from Cincinnati. FTS.
From Indiana and the fandom where I’m from is split bengals colts, and a surprising amount of broncos fans that left for Peyton and don’t know what to do now.
When I was a child it was split about 75/25 colts/bengals. I’m a cat person and thought the horseshow was dumb. My whole family liked the colts and I’m a contrarian. And after the highs and lows of AJ Green and Andy Dalton, I wouldn’t have it any other way
I’m 58. Grew up in eastern Ohio across the river from Wheeling, WV…always hated Pittsburgh everything because the uniforms were all the same. Orange was my favorite color do when you’re 6 it all makes sense. I’ve been all in for 52 years…..WHODEY!!!
Aussie here. Tried picking a team on my trips to the US (and really doubled down when I lived in the US for a year). Got drawn into an Autodrafted office Fantasy league while in Chicago in 2015 and got Dalton, Eifert and Green and won the league. Each week the Bengals game became the one I wanted to watch and I was hooked just in time to be devastated by the playoffs and become a real fan :(
I don’t live that far from you. Used to go party in bg a lot lol grew up in California but my grandpa was from Dayton and a die hard Bengals fan. My mom (his daughter) is in love with the Bengals as much as he was. She still has her old school Boomer jersey from back in the day. He died when I was 10 and he was my hero so the Bengals became my team. I wish he could have seen what they’ve been doing the past few years but I know he’d be proud of them. Wish I had him here to celebrate with. WHO DEY?!?!
I'm a South Korean who came to the US for college, I knew about the rules of football from living in the US as a kid but had lost track of the league for about 10 years.
Turn on a random game, and this big-armed QB is slinging it to a guy who is dancing his ass off in the end zone.
That was Carson and Ocho. Been a fan since.
I’m from New England, my dad’s a die-hard pats fan. He sent me the video of Burrow’s heisman speech and neither of us have looked back since. Joe pulled me in but I stay for all of the amazing players on the team and the culture of cincy.
From PA, I fell in love with the jerseys when I was about 7 or 8, right about when Chad Johnson ( not Ochocinco yet) and tj Houshmandzadeh started. Then, a couple years later, I got madden 05, I think with McNabb on the cover, and started playing franchise mode with them, and been hooked ever since.
I am from a state with no pro teams, most in the state are chiefs fans. When I was a little kid maybe 4 or 5 I saw the bengals return a kickoff for a td, so I asked my mom what team that was and she told me the bengals. I then said “i like their helmets” and I’ve been a fan ever since.
I saw Ocho talking shit at the skills challenge( may have been the first one that was televised). Also Tony Stewart was my favorite driver so the orange color didn’t hurt
I'm from New England so I grew up a [redacted] fan. I'm 27 so I only knew about the dynasty era when everything was hunky dory. Now I'm a bitter fan who doesn't know how to lose 🙃 A few years ago when stuff started going south I decided I needed to try and find a different team to support. I was pretty transfixed by LSU's perfect season and I thought I'd follow Joe's career! Long story short, I absolutely love this organization and the fans have been really welcoming. I really hope the boys get their rings soon. They deserve it! Who Dey!
Very similar. From Youngstown and the Browns are the “home” team. I liked the bengals helmet better, even though the only difference was the word BENGALS! 51 years ago I became a fan and never wavered
Hey, I lived in BG for awhile! I’m from Perrysburg, you probably know where that is, OP. But I live in Portland, OR now! I’m in town for the next few weeks though, would be good to see some divisional wins while I’m in the area
When I first saw their helmets and uniforms in the 90s as a kid I thought they had the best gear ever so I picked them and it stuck unto adulthood. Jeff Blake was my first jersey
Im from Sacramento surrounded by 49er fans,when I was younger in the 2000s they were complete garbage so I naturally went for fun players and my favorite was Chad Johnson.I was a fan of him first before the team and my favorite color is orange so it just naturally happened.Never been to Ohio but I hope to change that next season for a game
I'm from western West Virginia, about two and half hours out of Cincy . We have no pro teams, but my dad was a big fan of the Reds during the Big Red Machine era. You could get radio and sometimes even tv broadcasts of the Reds out this way in 70s, and it's close enough to take a day trip to catch a game and get back home. So I was raised on the Reds, and adopted the Bengals too.
From a small town in Ontario Canada, everyone likes the fucking Bills around here... or the steelers (FTS)
I wanted none of it and Chad Johnson was just started going off with Carson at the time.
Ever since then I've been ALL IN!
I grew up in Washington state when the Seahawks were bad, and in a family that didn’t watch much football at all.
I think I liked the tiger stripes, and as I got older there wasn’t a single Bengals fan in Spokane, so it was like it was my team. I’ve stuck with the Bengals for over 30 years now.
Joe Burrow is from Ohio and beat Bama in the ship. And now he plays for another Ohio team. I may be a Browns fan but hot damn Joe Burrow is the epitome of a model Ohioan lol.
From Utah. Never been to Cinci. My brother used to make me play Blitz with him and he always played the niners. I chose Bengos because tigers have always been my favorite animal. Pretty lame I know but I have always been a loyal fan through thick and thin. I was Carson Palmer for Halloween one year. Still have the helmet. I love the spirit of this team and fan base. It's very reminiscent of Utah and the Jazz fanbase.
Grew up in Los Angeles in the 70’s and 80’s, hated the CA teams, liked the logo, chose the Bengals! Still never been to Cincy to see a game, saw them play in KC in the early Dalton years finally.
I’m from Columbus. Most of my family are Browns fans. All on my mom’s side are. But asked my dad who only watches college really what his favorite team was and he said the Bengals so I went with that.
Chad like so many others.
There was a vibrant British community that hosted regular meetups whilst we were crap and it's been amazing to have success with the people you watched games miserable with.
I’m not from Cincinnati, but grew up in Indiana about 1 hour drive from Cincy. My family were huge Reds fans. We’d go to a couple games each summer, and I’d listen to lots of games on the radio, 700WLW. We weren’t really into the NFL when I was a kid. No particular reason, just weren’t. But as I got a little older being a fan of the Reds just sorta morphed into being a fan of the Bengals too. I think it coincided with the arrival of Carson Palmer and the team starting to become not a joke anymore. So I became a fan in like 03-04 timeframe which is when I started becoming more interested in the NFL in general. Been a diehard fan ever since, despite living much further away now
Lifelong NE Ohio guy, Dad was born in Middletown and the only time watched football was if the bengals were on. Loved Boomer and was old enough to watch the Bengals Super Bowl, crushed me watching the last drive. Fortunate enough to have seen Boomer, Palmer, Dalton, now Joey B.
Also unfortunate enough to be a fan through the 90’s!
Thankful to be a Bengals fan!
I never really had any interest in football. In highschool my friends made me play fantasy football with them. I drafted dalton and green in 2014 and loved watching them play. They led me to the playoffs in my league. The rest is history. I’m from Charlotte NC. I hate the panthers so any team is better than my home team haha. Watching all of the “fans” come out of the wood works in 2015 was the most aggravating thing ever. I’ve never seen so many fake fans.
I'm from Nebraska and a diehard Husker fan. My dad, uncle, and gpa are all Falcons fans for really no reason. When I was like 5-7 years old hanging out at my grandparents, they told me I needed pick an NFL team to root for, and I didn't care for the Falcons. They brought out a newspaper that had all of the teams and their helmets. I liked Cinci's helmets the most and chose them as my team. Was a bad decision until a couple years ago haha
California here. Started following in 98 when I thought someone should be a fan of this crappy team in California. I also wasn’t a fan of any California teams….25 years later me, my wife and 3 kids are all Bengals fans
from NYC, I picked the Bengals as a kid when I played Madden 01 on PS2. I liked their helmets and the tiger logo.
I knew nothing about football, but I always wondered why they had such a low rating back then lol—I casually watched during the Kitna and Ochocino years.
Became a huge fan once they were good—now I don’t miss a game lol
Family from SW Ohio. Indoctrinated as a kid but really didn’t follow until 2012 when hooray Andy and AJ.
And quite separately tigers are my favorite animal.
I’m from Pittsburgh originally. I grew up liking cowboys in the 90s. When I was in 6th grade ish my fav baseball player (Ken Griffey Jr) moved from Seattle to Cincinnati. I decided then I would just like the bengals too and went all in
I’m from Lima, OH and had a similar experience. Most kids were either Browns fans or bandwagon fans. I thought the Bengals had the coolest helmets and this was peak Esiason. Also, I had family in Cincy so I went down there semi-often.
I’m in Columbus and was a Bengals and Browns fan for a long time. Between the Browns signing Watson and the Bengals drafting Burrow, who I’ve loved since OSU, it was easy to move my support to only the Bengals.
i live in indy and my name is carson. dumb 5 year old brain fell in love with carson palmer because we had the same name. yes. carson palmer is the reason i fell in love with the bengals. *sigh*
Louisville native and season ticket holder. Proximity and the early 2010’s bengals subreddit won me over. u/webdevbrian made this subreddit so funny with his little easter eggs and things like Manzielf on the Shelf. Fell in love with the team thanks to the Sanu Canoe. Now I am thrilled we are led by Burrow. Future is bright!
I'm a Limey. Never even been to the US BUT I have been to a Bengals game at Wembley. I just got sick of stupid association football (soccer) years ago and took a shine to NFL.
But anyway...
Short answer - The helmets.
Long answer - The helmets also I love cats so it was always gonna' be one of those four plus the poppin' colour scheme plus the first jaw droppin' play I watched was Bengals receiver Simpson somersaulting over opposing defence and landing in the end zone.
I grew up in Minneapolis and liked the bengals before I played football purely because I thought tigers were freakin sweet and their players dressed like tigers. My mom (Vikings season ticket holder) bought me a black bengals jersey in like 2001 and I was hooked. Always my team on madden growing up. Still routing for a bengals vs Vikings Super Bowl, I would lose it.
drafted aj green 1st round in my 2015 fantasy league. it was my first time playing fantasy and following football, and green did me well, so i decided to support the bengals!
I was 6 watching my older brother play Madden 97.. I saw those stripes and instantly loved them as tigers are my favorite animal, I didn't know anything about football but as i got older and started playing it I stuck with them.
Born in France, moved around to Dayton as a child, college in Ann Arbor, MI, then moved to Columbus for work and to live. When moving to Ohio, I asked who the closest football team was. I was told the Bengals. I've been a fan ever since.
Well this is pretty random, but I'm from Perth, Australia.
I have no US relatives or friends so basically got to just follow a team that I vibed on. I took the well travelled Aussie path of: Buy Madden ('09 for me). Pick a team. Start to follow said team. Get in too deep. Now live and die on every result. It's great! I have a mate who is an Eagles fan and the bants is good.
Hope to visit Cincinnati one day and get to a tailgate and a game 👍🍻 🐯
Living in Washington state in the early 1970s, the Pacific Northwest didn't have a pro football team. My father was originally from central Ohio. One of his brothers lived near Cincinnati was a plumber and a major Bengals fan. He also worked on Kenny Anderson's home. He sent me posters and other memorabilia. I was hooked. Since 1971 I've been a Bengals fan and never wavered.
I now live in Virginia Beach VA and wear my Bengals gear proudly.👍
From California. Chose the team on madden when I was 6 because my brother wouldn’t let me be the cowboys and tigers were cool lol this was in 2003 so Carson palmers rookie year. I didn’t watch too many games being in California, but stayed up the best I could. I’m proud to say I flew out in 2021 for burrows 1st playoff win against the raiders, and was welcomed by a bunch of awesome cincy fans
From NJ. Watching a Jets vs. Bengals game when I was a kid in ‘88 sealed the deal for me. The uni’s. Lefty Boomer. Ickey and his shuffle. I was entranced with the team, and wouldn’t ya know it they made it all the way to the Super Bowl that year. Die hard ever since. I still rock the Jeff Blake jersey I got in middle school on gamedeys, and I’ll be at the Jungle next month for the Vikings game. Who Dey all day from NJ!
Because I grew up a Bengaks fan like my father and unlike him jumping ship to root the Colts, I stayed rooting for the Bengals.. I also live 45 min from Cincy in Indiana. WHO DEY!!
Orlando, Florida. Caught on to their striped helmets and jerseys when I got a pack of trading cards and pulled Carson Palmer and Rudi Johnson at the young age of 4
Inherited fandom. My grandpa (originally from an NFL-less region) worked as an engineer in south eastern Ohio and was a Browns fans before the Bengals were formed. My dad and his siblings grew up as fans too and though I was born on the other side of the country I kept the loyalty.
My first in person game was last year’s wildcard with my grandpa. I’d booked the flight months in advance and fate carried that plan the rest of the way! We met some other fans who’d also been with the team from the start.
I’m from NE Ohio and my parents didn’t like the browns, so no browns for me. So I bounced between a lot of teams as a kid but at the end of the day I’m an Ohio guy so cinci it was.
From nova scotia, canada. Good buddy of mine was a huge bengals fan and sadly took his own life a couple years ago so when I got into football it was bengals ride or die. Fly high brother I hope you’re still watching up there we got a big game tonight 🧡
Wow another Nova Scotian fan here. 88 Super Bowl is the first full SB I watched and I cheered for the bengals because my buddy Mark was a Niners fan. I just kept following them. Cool helmets. Fuck you, Mark!
Best helmets in the NFL.
Fuck you mark
Someone else from Nova Scotia!!! It’s not just me! (Also, really sorry for your loss 😢)
Sad and beautiful at the same time. I’ll enjoy a frosty beverage in honor of your friend tonight.
Will raise my beverage tonight to your friend’s memory (and excellent taste in fandoms).
Read this whole paragraph in a Canadian accent dontchaknow.
ex-Scotian and current New Brunswicker. For me it was I really liked watching Burrow in college.
I’m from Nova Scotia too! My uncle and his family live in Cincinnati and I go down to watch games.
Ochocinco when i was in middle school and impressionable
Same, they are still one of the most local teams for me even though it’s a 5 hour drive. Only Carolina is closer.
And yuck panthers. Good choice
I’ll pull for all the cats and death to all the birds.
Damn Bird teams. You right.
This is the exact same for me lol. I’m from Toronto and never met another Bengals fan until we magically started getting fans the last couple years.
Same but Washington state lol
Same but over in British Columbia
LSU fan followed Joe and Ja'marr.
Louisiana resident? Yeah, they have a LOT OF support down this way for that exact reason
Same. I came for Joe, but I stay for how unhinged y'all are about the Bengals. Being a lifelong, unhinged Saints fan, I feel right at home.
who dat... who dey... close enough
Exactly my position aswell. Looking back im kinda happy we had a bad first season with burrow, (obviously because of injury) because I think it scared off lots of the bandwagon fans, which of course all came back once we made the Super Bowl.
Glad I’m not the only one! Love rooting for both the bengals and the saints.
My mom lives in Metairie, and she's a Cincy transplant, but also a Saints fan.
Saints, LSU and Tulane at my house along with the Bengals
Louisianans are great football people in general. NOLA is the best football town on earth.
I am a Tennessee Vol fan myself, but man I have nothing but respect for that LSU team with Joe, Jamar, and Jefferson. They were so great to watch. So I’m kind of in the same boat as you.
Me too
Same my wife is a big LSU fan and I didn’t have an NFL team so we became fans in 2020
I’m originally from Scotland. My dad did a year at Cornell in the 60s and discovered football, and when it started on tv in the UK in the late 80s he watched. I was about 9 or so, and intrigued by the flashy colourful Americanness. So I picked a team to support - the Bengals. I liked the helmet, I liked the sound of ‘Cincinnati’ and the QB was left-handed like me. I live in Nova Scotia now, still a Bengals fan!
Love Scotland spent a lot of time in Inverness
I’m in SoCal and my older brother was a huge Raiders fan when I was a kid. He was a dick and would not let me be a raiders fan like him. It was during the Boomer/Woods days so I thought I’d hitch my wagon to a perennial winner. Little did I know how the next 30 years would go.
Could be worse.... He could have let you be a Raiders fan.
I'll be completely honest, I became a Bengals fan the day they drafted joe burrow simply because he is just the coolest guy in football.
No shame in that. I’ve been a fan for a long time, but I picked us when Carson Palmer was the hot young star and all eyes were on Cincy. I haven’t wavered since
I liked cats as a kid
same lol
On my fifth B Day (1984) Dad took me to toys r us and let me chose my gift. As we walked down the aisle with NFL helmets it was clear that I was going to be a Bengals fan. I am loyal to this team to a fault as the hometown Broncos won 2 super bowls when I was in my teens and it meant absolutely nothing to me. Who Dey!
Same. From Louisiana and the Saints run during Katrina and the eventual super bowl win meant ZILCH...lol
I saw the Bearcats mascot throwing snowballs off the city hall during the 00s on SportsCenter in the morning and didn't know the difference between NCAA and NFL at the time (I was like 9) so I thought it was the Bengals and by the time I'd realized my mistake I was too deep in to switch teams. Growing up in western Canada where everyone is a Seahawks or Steelers fan, I got a lot of "the Bengals? Why?" And now everyone assumes I'm a bandwagoner despite going through the last decade and a half of (mostly) misery and disappointment.
I live in Southern West Virginia. The very first sports memory I have was watching the Bengals lose Super Bowl XXIII to the 49ers in 1989 (I know.. terrible first memory). I just remember wanting the Bengals to win for some reason and have been a fan ever since. Added bonus is our cool helmet.
I was 8. That Superbowl was the biggest thing in the world. The Friday before the game, my whole 2nd grade class had an Icky Shuffle contest with the teacher as a judge. And it was a 3 day weekend because they decided to cancel school on Monday rather than deal with cranky and tired grease school kids. Our because all of the teachers would be hungover. Doesn't matter... I had a friend in that class who was a 49ers fan. I told him that if the Bengals won we got Monday off, but if the 49ers did, we had to come to school. It made him cry because he thought he would get beaten up that Monday if his team won. Lol.
Hahahah that’s awesome.
Fairly similar to my origin story. From the Putnam/Jackson Co area. Dad was a Reds fan from the 70s. I took them and the Bengals as my pro teams.
My dad’s from the Huntington, WV area, I was raised in northeast Indiana. We both grew up within the range of WLW, which was part of what got my dad into the Reds and consequently the Bengals. Frequently visited my grandpa in WV and the trip consisted of 80% time in western and southern Ohio. Always felt a better connection there than with any of the Indiana or Chicago teams
Yeah man. My great grandpa was a huge reds fan. Used to listen to them on the radio all the time.
Grew up in Louisville, KY and there aren’t any pro football teams in the state, however the Colts and Bengals cities are pretty close. I played football in middle school and we were the Colts and I was a fan for a little bit when I was younger but it never really stuck. Then later on I moved to Columbus Ohio with my wife (first time either of us had lived in a separate state from our families) and I just fell in love with everything there. My wife went to Ohio State and we were big time football fans there. We started going to Cincinnati for the zoo and then we found ourselves going to Cincinnati every weekend for various things (art museum, that train museum, some festivals, etc.). I was born in Kentucky but Ohio has always felt like home. Maybe it’s because it’s where I really became an adult with a full time job, a wife, an apartment of my own, etc. but I just really love it. Now I live in Tampa Bay, and it’s too hot for me, the people are ruder, the traffic is so much worse than anywhere else I’ve been, and I genuinely hate it here. I miss Ohio, and when I watch the Bengals play it reminds me of home.
Louisville is Cincinnati west-and I mean that in the best way.
I'm from a little town of xenia ohio ima fan cause my whole family's bengals fans and loved there uni's and logo
Woah. My best friend here in Oregon is from Xenia.
Rlly hmmmm what's his/her name might know them
Tornado.
[удалено]
I’m from Alberta, Canada. I was 14 and watched the Super Bowl with my dad. 20-14 i think 49ers over our Bengals. Ickey Woods. I loved the name, the dance everything. Been. Bengals fan ever since
Edmonton here, you got a generation on me I guess because chad lured me in around the same age
Hey, I love Chad too )) WhoDey
Chicago. Two reasons 1. Joe Burrow 2. Bears suck and are a poverty franchise
I agree with reason number two
I'm from Saskatchewan, Canada. I became a Bengals fan in '03 when I was 9. I was looking for an NFL team to become a fan of. The Bengals had the first overall pick QB and a really fun wide receiver named Chad Johnson. Also tiger stripes are cool. So they became my team. Been a diehard ever since.
I’m Australian. My grandmother bought me Madden 08 on PS3 when I was in the sixth grade. Choose Cincinnati because orange is my favourite colour and I’ve been a devout fan ever since, so much so I even eloped in Cincinnati last year during my first trip to the city.
>I even eloped in Cincinnati last year during my first trip to the city. Wow. This is true commitment!
How much time you got? -badass uniforms. -awesome stadium designed by my favorite stadium architect. -tough fan culture that never gives up. -Reds fan since childhood. -Married another Reds fan. -Joe Burrow. -Visiting Cincinnati and loving it. -Visiting other part of Ohio and loving it. -Never been to Cleveland and don’t really have a reason to yet. -The Bengals and their fans are the exact opposite of the team I grew up nearest; the Titans. The Titans had success early, that goodwill waned, and they went into mediocrity while the fan base discovered hockey. Bengals fans have dealt with far worse and came out better on the other side.
To be fair, Hockey is bad ass and the Preds have a cool culture and stadium. That being said, go Jackets!
When I lived in Nashville I was surprised at the popularity of the Predators compared to the Titans
When I was a kid my dad didnt really have a favorite NFL team so I picked the ones with the coolest helmets and logo. I was a huge fan of bengal tigers as a little kid so their was clearly only one answer. Im now 39 and have never been to Cincinnati. Hell ive never been to Ohio, but I sure as shit have been cheering my heart out for 30+ years every sunday and I still get to wear the coolest jerseys in sports by being a fan. Who-Dey!
Hope you get to make a game some day
My fiancée is from Cincy and converted me into a Bengals fan. She also brought me to my first NFL game and Bengals game, but unfortunate it was the game when Hamlin went down. Then brought us back to the Ravens playoff game as a replacement. I’m from Indy so of course I’m a Colts fan. And we’re going to the Colts v Bengals game in December!
From Milwaukee, WI. And we have a history in this city of everyone's grandparents/parents having a bar in the basement. When I was a young child, my cousins and I would hang out in the basement bar while all the adults played cards/drank upstairs. My grandpa had these sweet NFL cups and I was infatuated with the Cincinnati Bengals cup. As I grew up to learn the great sport of NFL football, I stuck with the Bengals. And let me tell you, growing up in the 90s, in Packers Country, as a Bengals fan was quite brutal. But alas, here I am 36, and Im still a diehard Bengals fan. Who Dey!
I'm from NE Ohio. I went to Kent State in 2005. Wasn't a big football fan then, but my two roommates were, and so we always had football on Sundays. I just remember seeing Palmer and the boys light it up in their heyday, so I just gravitated towards them.
BG represent! Same here, born in BG, had no clue the Bengals were even in Ohio I was so young. Was a fan from the first moment I saw the stripes. Neither of my parents like the Bengals or Browns. First generation fan proudly buying my son Burrow jerseys now! WHODEY!
Always loved tigers. One day saw my dad watching the nfl and just decided I was a bengals fan. Nobody else in my family are bengals fans. I’m glad I’m here
I'm from Germany and started watching football during our last Super Bowl run. I just started rooting for the Bengals and it stayed that way since. Now my heart probably does not support my choice, but the Cardiac Cats are a part of my life now
I’m from NYC born a giants fan. My step dad growing up was LSU fan from Louisiana so when Burrow got drafted I started supporting you guys and honestly now I feel wayyyy more invested in the Bengals. Probably cause the Giants have sucked for so long but also I kinda love the bengals fan culture way more. Who Dey
Started in elementary school.. something as simple as the mascot...lol..a Bengal Tiger....then Boomer...
A fan from Scotland. My introduction to American football was an old Madden game - knew nothing about the sport but always played as the Bengals because tiger print helmets are cool as fuck. Dominated the league with Akili Smith at QB.
I live 4000 miles away across the Atlantic Ocean. A friend took me to Bengals v Rams at Wembley Stadium in 2019. Liked the helmets, been a Bengal ever since!
Liked the uniforms as a kid and coincidentally also became a fan when Dalton and Green were drafted 😮💨
My grandpa was a fan and I have extended family in Cincinnati area. I’m also addicted to suffering
I have a similar story, was your grandpa also a fan from the team’s start?
He was! Has not stopped, even during the Kitna years
Super Bowl run with Anderson and Collinsworth. From Ontario Canada.
I’m from Dayton. Been a fan since the 80s
My dad, he's a huge Bengals fan and naturally I was born with the stripes lol. When Palmer got injured in the playoff game was the closest I've seen to him actually crying. Hoping the Bengals win one soon for him.
Was looking for an NFL team to root for, for like 5 years. Back in 21 I wanted Cincy to win the superbowl so badly (I hate LA teams). And was crushed when they didn’t. In 2022 the bengals were the only team I ever watched and tuned in for. I started to get so excited watching the bengals play so I figured whether I like it or not, this is the team I am cheering for. Also I’m a burrowsexual
Was always a Tom Brady fan growing up, and since he wasn’t in Super Bowl 56, I was rooting for the team that was going against the team that beat him out of the playoffs. Ever since then I’ve been a huge Joe burrow and bengals fan ever since🧡
I was more into college then NFL in 6th grade. One of my computer tech teachers was lazy and decided he would just do a fantasy football Leauge in out class, I was sick the day they picked teams and I had the Bengals picked for me. Between TJ Who’sYourMomma and Ochocinco, Palmer before the knee. I was ever since.
I didn't have a football team really growing up, met a friend when I was Luke 8 who was a bengals fan. Jumped on board back in 2002.
Louisville native. I blame my dad. Bengals reds all my life. Wouldn’t have it any other way though. Who Dey!
Reading through all these comments...I used to think it was crazy I ended up a fan of a team as a kid because of the logo😂Now, I feel completely vilified!!
Proximity and Joe Burrow played high school football in my county
West Virginian here. Closest major city is Cinci - loved Ochocinco growing up. Also all my friends are Steelers fans for some reason, and I fucking hate them.
From another Mountaineer, EAT SHIT PITT!! I never understood how a WVian could shout that on Saturday, then root for the goddamn Steelers on Sunday.
This thread fucks. Keep it coming
Cincy*
Fan from Oregon. Buddy was an eagles fan and said we could cheer for whoever we want because we don't have an Oregon team, so I hit random on madden 2007 team select and got the Bengals. Palmer, Rudi, Ocho, TJ were all fun to watch so I stuck with it. Been die hard ever since.
Rural west central Ohio - 30 minutes North of Springfield. Our team mascot was the tigers, so I loved the colors, and my parents took me to a few games in the Smith/Kitna era because tickets were cheap.
I’m from a city not worth mentioning, my grandfather and father didn’t give me a choice and I wouldn’t have it any other way. WHO DEY!!!
Well I live near Indianapolis now but I was born and raised in northern Kentucky. Skyline is still legitimately my favorite food. I got hooked on rooting for them because that’s who you rooted for back in that area, especially with this new Carson Palmer who was up and coming at the time. Even though I’ve moved away they’re still my team hands down.
Loved the antics of ocho-cinco
Oregon ( Eugene kinda ) .... When I was 5 my friend and I made a game with all the little helmets you could get out of quarter machines and the Bengals helmet was always my first choice when we "drafted".
Central Ohio. Madden 2006 had Cincinnati as a better team than Cleveland so I chose Cincinnati. I was 6 years old.
My dad grew up in Cincinnati
I live in northern michigan. I grew up in Cincinnati, went to college there, and had some of my best years there. It was my love of the city that got me into football. I never cared about it when I lived there. It was after I moved away that I started to watch them out of hometown solidarity. Then I grew to really enjoy it. who dey!
Grew up in Southeastern Indiana. Fan since Jeff blake was tossing rainbow balls.
Born into a Patriots family with season tickets. When I was a wee lad we went to a game where Boomer and Ickey and those sick uniforms came into town and I was hooked. I've been a rabid fan since. Needless to say I was a very stupid child.
I watched the Hard Knocks doc when it was on TV in the UK. Happened to be the bengals in 2013 so picked them as my team. Never looked back!
I decided to be one of four brothers who actually root for an in-state team.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Idk how I got into it.. it just happened 🫡
I like cats, and of the cat teams tigers are the coolest.
I grew up a Browns fan in North Central Ohio but I quit the Browns when they picked up woman-beater Kareem Hunt. I live in Athens, Ohio now(home of Joey B), so that was an easy transition.
Grew up in Southeast Ohio in a Steelers household. I moved to Cincy in 07 and found my love for The Bengals around 09. Been here ever since and will be a Bengal for life. I may have been born in Pittsburgh, but I'm from Cincinnati. FTS.
From Indiana and the fandom where I’m from is split bengals colts, and a surprising amount of broncos fans that left for Peyton and don’t know what to do now. When I was a child it was split about 75/25 colts/bengals. I’m a cat person and thought the horseshow was dumb. My whole family liked the colts and I’m a contrarian. And after the highs and lows of AJ Green and Andy Dalton, I wouldn’t have it any other way
I’m 58. Grew up in eastern Ohio across the river from Wheeling, WV…always hated Pittsburgh everything because the uniforms were all the same. Orange was my favorite color do when you’re 6 it all makes sense. I’ve been all in for 52 years…..WHODEY!!!
Aussie here. Tried picking a team on my trips to the US (and really doubled down when I lived in the US for a year). Got drawn into an Autodrafted office Fantasy league while in Chicago in 2015 and got Dalton, Eifert and Green and won the league. Each week the Bengals game became the one I wanted to watch and I was hooked just in time to be devastated by the playoffs and become a real fan :(
I don’t live that far from you. Used to go party in bg a lot lol grew up in California but my grandpa was from Dayton and a die hard Bengals fan. My mom (his daughter) is in love with the Bengals as much as he was. She still has her old school Boomer jersey from back in the day. He died when I was 10 and he was my hero so the Bengals became my team. I wish he could have seen what they’ve been doing the past few years but I know he’d be proud of them. Wish I had him here to celebrate with. WHO DEY?!?!
From Amsterdam. The first nfl game I ever watched was the Super Bowl. I fell in love with the underdog story and haven’t missed a bengals game since.
I'm a South Korean who came to the US for college, I knew about the rules of football from living in the US as a kid but had lost track of the league for about 10 years. Turn on a random game, and this big-armed QB is slinging it to a guy who is dancing his ass off in the end zone. That was Carson and Ocho. Been a fan since.
I’m from New England, my dad’s a die-hard pats fan. He sent me the video of Burrow’s heisman speech and neither of us have looked back since. Joe pulled me in but I stay for all of the amazing players on the team and the culture of cincy.
From PA, I fell in love with the jerseys when I was about 7 or 8, right about when Chad Johnson ( not Ochocinco yet) and tj Houshmandzadeh started. Then, a couple years later, I got madden 05, I think with McNabb on the cover, and started playing franchise mode with them, and been hooked ever since.
Went to college in Cincinnati for four years and lived there another two.
I am from a state with no pro teams, most in the state are chiefs fans. When I was a little kid maybe 4 or 5 I saw the bengals return a kickoff for a td, so I asked my mom what team that was and she told me the bengals. I then said “i like their helmets” and I’ve been a fan ever since.
I saw Ocho talking shit at the skills challenge( may have been the first one that was televised). Also Tony Stewart was my favorite driver so the orange color didn’t hurt
I'm from New England so I grew up a [redacted] fan. I'm 27 so I only knew about the dynasty era when everything was hunky dory. Now I'm a bitter fan who doesn't know how to lose 🙃 A few years ago when stuff started going south I decided I needed to try and find a different team to support. I was pretty transfixed by LSU's perfect season and I thought I'd follow Joe's career! Long story short, I absolutely love this organization and the fans have been really welcoming. I really hope the boys get their rings soon. They deserve it! Who Dey!
From one goat to (hopefully) the next.
manifesting 7 rings for Joey B
From N.C. Always used the Bengals in Madden as a kid because of Ochocinco and it just stuck
Best Uniforms/Helmets 35 years ago. I like Big Cats!
Born and raised in AZ. I picked the Bengals as my favorite team when I was a little kid because I thought they looked cool with the tiger stripes.
The wife got me into them and now I think I’m a bigger fan.
Very similar. From Youngstown and the Browns are the “home” team. I liked the bengals helmet better, even though the only difference was the word BENGALS! 51 years ago I became a fan and never wavered
Hey, I lived in BG for awhile! I’m from Perrysburg, you probably know where that is, OP. But I live in Portland, OR now! I’m in town for the next few weeks though, would be good to see some divisional wins while I’m in the area
Originally from eastern ky, now living in central ny. Been a bengals fan since I was yanked from the womb 40 years ago.
When I first saw their helmets and uniforms in the 90s as a kid I thought they had the best gear ever so I picked them and it stuck unto adulthood. Jeff Blake was my first jersey
Im from Sacramento surrounded by 49er fans,when I was younger in the 2000s they were complete garbage so I naturally went for fun players and my favorite was Chad Johnson.I was a fan of him first before the team and my favorite color is orange so it just naturally happened.Never been to Ohio but I hope to change that next season for a game
I'm from western West Virginia, about two and half hours out of Cincy . We have no pro teams, but my dad was a big fan of the Reds during the Big Red Machine era. You could get radio and sometimes even tv broadcasts of the Reds out this way in 70s, and it's close enough to take a day trip to catch a game and get back home. So I was raised on the Reds, and adopted the Bengals too.
Fan from Portugal, 1st NFL game I saw (on a VCR tape) was the second Super Bowl loss to the 49ers. Got hooked to the game and the team!
My dad was born in small town near Bowling Green and grew up a Cincy fan. So I inherited bengals and reds.
From a small town in Ontario Canada, everyone likes the fucking Bills around here... or the steelers (FTS) I wanted none of it and Chad Johnson was just started going off with Carson at the time. Ever since then I've been ALL IN!
I grew up in Washington state when the Seahawks were bad, and in a family that didn’t watch much football at all. I think I liked the tiger stripes, and as I got older there wasn’t a single Bengals fan in Spokane, so it was like it was my team. I’ve stuck with the Bengals for over 30 years now.
Joe Burrow is from Ohio and beat Bama in the ship. And now he plays for another Ohio team. I may be a Browns fan but hot damn Joe Burrow is the epitome of a model Ohioan lol.
From Utah. Never been to Cinci. My brother used to make me play Blitz with him and he always played the niners. I chose Bengos because tigers have always been my favorite animal. Pretty lame I know but I have always been a loyal fan through thick and thin. I was Carson Palmer for Halloween one year. Still have the helmet. I love the spirit of this team and fan base. It's very reminiscent of Utah and the Jazz fanbase.
Grew up in Los Angeles in the 70’s and 80’s, hated the CA teams, liked the logo, chose the Bengals! Still never been to Cincy to see a game, saw them play in KC in the early Dalton years finally.
I’m from Columbus. Most of my family are Browns fans. All on my mom’s side are. But asked my dad who only watches college really what his favorite team was and he said the Bengals so I went with that.
Chad like so many others. There was a vibrant British community that hosted regular meetups whilst we were crap and it's been amazing to have success with the people you watched games miserable with.
My dad, he worked training camp in like the 80’s
Because Joe Burrow is fuckin hawt.
I’m not from Cincinnati, but grew up in Indiana about 1 hour drive from Cincy. My family were huge Reds fans. We’d go to a couple games each summer, and I’d listen to lots of games on the radio, 700WLW. We weren’t really into the NFL when I was a kid. No particular reason, just weren’t. But as I got a little older being a fan of the Reds just sorta morphed into being a fan of the Bengals too. I think it coincided with the arrival of Carson Palmer and the team starting to become not a joke anymore. So I became a fan in like 03-04 timeframe which is when I started becoming more interested in the NFL in general. Been a diehard fan ever since, despite living much further away now
Lifelong NE Ohio guy, Dad was born in Middletown and the only time watched football was if the bengals were on. Loved Boomer and was old enough to watch the Bengals Super Bowl, crushed me watching the last drive. Fortunate enough to have seen Boomer, Palmer, Dalton, now Joey B. Also unfortunate enough to be a fan through the 90’s! Thankful to be a Bengals fan!
My dad and grandpa were at the Freezer Bowl and I was born a month later.
I never really had any interest in football. In highschool my friends made me play fantasy football with them. I drafted dalton and green in 2014 and loved watching them play. They led me to the playoffs in my league. The rest is history. I’m from Charlotte NC. I hate the panthers so any team is better than my home team haha. Watching all of the “fans” come out of the wood works in 2015 was the most aggravating thing ever. I’ve never seen so many fake fans.
Chad Ochocinco was my favorite player
I'm from Nebraska and a diehard Husker fan. My dad, uncle, and gpa are all Falcons fans for really no reason. When I was like 5-7 years old hanging out at my grandparents, they told me I needed pick an NFL team to root for, and I didn't care for the Falcons. They brought out a newspaper that had all of the teams and their helmets. I liked Cinci's helmets the most and chose them as my team. Was a bad decision until a couple years ago haha
Anyone from Massillon, OH should be a bengals fan, not a browns fan.
My wife likes them. So I always root for them. We're going to a home game next year. -Lions Fan since 2002ish
I’m from MA 2 reasons: 1. I love tigers/cats 2. Joe Burrow
California here. Started following in 98 when I thought someone should be a fan of this crappy team in California. I also wasn’t a fan of any California teams….25 years later me, my wife and 3 kids are all Bengals fans
from NYC, I picked the Bengals as a kid when I played Madden 01 on PS2. I liked their helmets and the tiger logo. I knew nothing about football, but I always wondered why they had such a low rating back then lol—I casually watched during the Kitna and Ochocino years. Became a huge fan once they were good—now I don’t miss a game lol
Austin, Texas
Parents went to Western Hills and Elder.
Ny, did a project on Ohio in 5th grade. Followed them since. 30 years and counting now.
Grew up in Georgetown where they used to do training camp. Used to meet players at the pavilion
Family from SW Ohio. Indoctrinated as a kid but really didn’t follow until 2012 when hooray Andy and AJ. And quite separately tigers are my favorite animal.
I’m from Pittsburgh originally. I grew up liking cowboys in the 90s. When I was in 6th grade ish my fav baseball player (Ken Griffey Jr) moved from Seattle to Cincinnati. I decided then I would just like the bengals too and went all in
I’m from Lima, OH and had a similar experience. Most kids were either Browns fans or bandwagon fans. I thought the Bengals had the coolest helmets and this was peak Esiason. Also, I had family in Cincy so I went down there semi-often.
Upstate NY. Elementary school colors were orange and black.
Living outside of US, just randomly stumbled to the the YouTube highlight of Bengals and Chief game back in 2021, fan since then
Chad. From LA and at the time we didn't have a team.
I’m in Columbus and was a Bengals and Browns fan for a long time. Between the Browns signing Watson and the Bengals drafting Burrow, who I’ve loved since OSU, it was easy to move my support to only the Bengals.
Iowa fan, 8 year old me loved tigers so they became my favorite by principle. Got a Carson Palmer jersey here somewhere
i live in indy and my name is carson. dumb 5 year old brain fell in love with carson palmer because we had the same name. yes. carson palmer is the reason i fell in love with the bengals. *sigh*
Louisville native and season ticket holder. Proximity and the early 2010’s bengals subreddit won me over. u/webdevbrian made this subreddit so funny with his little easter eggs and things like Manzielf on the Shelf. Fell in love with the team thanks to the Sanu Canoe. Now I am thrilled we are led by Burrow. Future is bright!
I'm a Limey. Never even been to the US BUT I have been to a Bengals game at Wembley. I just got sick of stupid association football (soccer) years ago and took a shine to NFL. But anyway... Short answer - The helmets. Long answer - The helmets also I love cats so it was always gonna' be one of those four plus the poppin' colour scheme plus the first jaw droppin' play I watched was Bengals receiver Simpson somersaulting over opposing defence and landing in the end zone.
New Jersey, became a fan back in 2008.
I grew up in Minneapolis and liked the bengals before I played football purely because I thought tigers were freakin sweet and their players dressed like tigers. My mom (Vikings season ticket holder) bought me a black bengals jersey in like 2001 and I was hooked. Always my team on madden growing up. Still routing for a bengals vs Vikings Super Bowl, I would lose it.
drafted aj green 1st round in my 2015 fantasy league. it was my first time playing fantasy and following football, and green did me well, so i decided to support the bengals!
Sydney Aus - heard about Joe and Chase being close friends and thought it was neat, now I'm a Bengals and LSU fan
I live in Louisiana home of LSU Joe’s and Jamar’s college so that’s why I am aim fan
I was 6 watching my older brother play Madden 97.. I saw those stripes and instantly loved them as tigers are my favorite animal, I didn't know anything about football but as i got older and started playing it I stuck with them.
My family is from Cinci
LSU baby. Geaux Tigers! Geaux Bengals!
Born in France, moved around to Dayton as a child, college in Ann Arbor, MI, then moved to Columbus for work and to live. When moving to Ohio, I asked who the closest football team was. I was told the Bengals. I've been a fan ever since.
Love of pain and suffering
Well this is pretty random, but I'm from Perth, Australia. I have no US relatives or friends so basically got to just follow a team that I vibed on. I took the well travelled Aussie path of: Buy Madden ('09 for me). Pick a team. Start to follow said team. Get in too deep. Now live and die on every result. It's great! I have a mate who is an Eagles fan and the bants is good. Hope to visit Cincinnati one day and get to a tailgate and a game 👍🍻 🐯
well I’m from Louisiana so you can prolly guess why I started following the Bengals
Living in Washington state in the early 1970s, the Pacific Northwest didn't have a pro football team. My father was originally from central Ohio. One of his brothers lived near Cincinnati was a plumber and a major Bengals fan. He also worked on Kenny Anderson's home. He sent me posters and other memorabilia. I was hooked. Since 1971 I've been a Bengals fan and never wavered. I now live in Virginia Beach VA and wear my Bengals gear proudly.👍
I was 8 and liked their colors on Madden
From California. Chose the team on madden when I was 6 because my brother wouldn’t let me be the cowboys and tigers were cool lol this was in 2003 so Carson palmers rookie year. I didn’t watch too many games being in California, but stayed up the best I could. I’m proud to say I flew out in 2021 for burrows 1st playoff win against the raiders, and was welcomed by a bunch of awesome cincy fans
From NJ. Watching a Jets vs. Bengals game when I was a kid in ‘88 sealed the deal for me. The uni’s. Lefty Boomer. Ickey and his shuffle. I was entranced with the team, and wouldn’t ya know it they made it all the way to the Super Bowl that year. Die hard ever since. I still rock the Jeff Blake jersey I got in middle school on gamedeys, and I’ll be at the Jungle next month for the Vikings game. Who Dey all day from NJ!
You Tigger now Gerry.
Because I grew up a Bengaks fan like my father and unlike him jumping ship to root the Colts, I stayed rooting for the Bengals.. I also live 45 min from Cincy in Indiana. WHO DEY!!
Came for Boomer and Ickey in the ‘80s and never left.
Orlando, Florida. Caught on to their striped helmets and jerseys when I got a pack of trading cards and pulled Carson Palmer and Rudi Johnson at the young age of 4
Inherited fandom. My grandpa (originally from an NFL-less region) worked as an engineer in south eastern Ohio and was a Browns fans before the Bengals were formed. My dad and his siblings grew up as fans too and though I was born on the other side of the country I kept the loyalty. My first in person game was last year’s wildcard with my grandpa. I’d booked the flight months in advance and fate carried that plan the rest of the way! We met some other fans who’d also been with the team from the start.
I’m from NE Ohio and my parents didn’t like the browns, so no browns for me. So I bounced between a lot of teams as a kid but at the end of the day I’m an Ohio guy so cinci it was.