The Cincinnati Bengals are officially cementing the legacy of two former players with their organization. Cincinnati announced that Chad Johnson and Boomer Esiason are the team’s 2023 Ring of Honor inductees.
Bengals legends Boomer Esiason and Chad Johnson will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor on Sept. 25, the team announced. The induction ceremony will take place during halftime of the “Monday Night Football” game against the Los Angeles Rams in Cincinnati.
Even as they put him in the Bengals Ring of Honor in a halftime ceremony planned for this season, Chad Johnson is having fun with it.
Chad Johnson with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
For the man formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, here are a few things to know about the newest Ring of Honor inductee:
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A Unique Personality
NFL fans will remember Johnson’s big time catches, but Johnson said he hopes that his personality overshadows his touchdown catches. "I’m glad it did. I’m glad it did. I’m glad it did," Johnson said over and over about his personality sticking out.
"I didn’t care about stats. I didn’t care about numbers. I didn’t care about all that stuff. I played football the same way I did in high school to have fun," Johnson said.
He personified fun and winning. The Bengals exited one of the ugliest decades in the history of professional sports in need of somebody who could change their image. Johnson did just that and broke nearly every franchise record in the process.
"The fans have been the meat and potatoes to my success. I can still smell those flowers," Johnson said.
The season ticket holders who voted Johnson in agree: His authentic self made him a loveable fan favorite.
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Johnson, best known for his impromptu and creative touchdown celebrations, was just being himself on and off the field. From his hilarious extracurricular chatter with opposing players and referees, to his memorable connections with quarterback Carson Palmer, Johnson said he still wouldn’t change anything about himself.
"They embraced me. Me. My true authentic, organic self. They didn’t want me to change. They didn’t try to conform me to be someone that I wasn’t," Johnson said with gratitude. "That’s what means the most to me."
There were also the guarantees and the name change to Ochocinco and the touchdown celebrations that irked the league office to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars of fines.
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"Because that's exactly how I played the game," Johnson says. "I would never change anything.
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Record-Breaking Career
There’s no denying that Johnson’s numbers probably played a role in voters selecting him for the Ring of Honor. He’s still the team’s all-time leading receiver with 10,783 receiving yards.
Johnson - who also went by Chad Ochocinco from 2008-2012 - was a Bengals second-round pick in 2001 and became one of the best receivers of his generation. Johnson is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions (751), yards (10,783), and receiving touchdowns (66).
Not The GOAT Rice. Not the last four of his peers who have been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (where he has said he thinks he belongs), Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce and Calvin Johnson.
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is honored during the Bengals Legends Halftime Ceremony during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Cincinnati.
Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson is honored during the Bengals Legends Halftime Ceremony during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, in Cincinnati.
Early Life and College Career
Johnson was born in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Miami Beach Senior High School. Johnson briefly attended Langston University.
In 1997, Johnson transferred to Santa Monica College, a community college in Santa Monica, California. In 2000, Johnson transferred to Oregon State University, after being aggressively recruited by coach Dennis Erickson to play for the OSU team.
He played college football with multiple NFL starsJohnson's college career began at Santa Monica College, where he played with Steve Smith. Smith spent two years at Santa Monica before transferring to Utah.
Johnson spent three years at Santa Monica before transferring to Oregon State, where he teamed up with future Bengals teammate T.J. Houshmandzadeh. In one season together, the pair combined for 1,464 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Beavers went 11-1 in 2000 and defeated Notre Dame in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. After nine years in Cincinnati, Houshmandzadeh spent one year each with the Ravens, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders.
Other Notable Moments
During the 2005 NFL season, Johnson announced that he would keep a checklist, titled who Covered 85 in '05, that would evaluate the defensive backs who successfully managed to cover him.
On November 2, 2005, Marvin Lewis, the Bengals' head coach, replaced Johnson's list with another one titled, Did 85 do everything he could to lead his team to victory 11-6-05.
In addition to being one of the most productive receivers in the NFL, Johnson was also one of the most popular in balloting for the Pro Bowl. In the fan voting for the 2006 game, he finished first in votes for wide receivers, and fourth overall with 987,650 total votes.
Johnson earned nationwide attention for his flamboyant attitude, which was often seen during his infamous end zone celebrations after catching touchdown passes.
He once raced a horseCincinnati professional athletes have a short but entertaining history of competing with four-legged creatures. Before the 1990 World Series, Reds second baseman Billy Bates raced a cheetah at Riverfront Stadium.
Before the 2007 season, Johnson announced that he was going to race a horse.
The competition took place at River Downs with a horse named Restore the Roar running one-eighth of a mile and Johnson running 1/16th of a mile. Johnson used his speed to beat the horse fairly easily, something former Bengals receiver Cris Collinsworth couldn't do in a similar event in 1983.
The race was open to the public, with all money raised going toward the Marvin Lewis Community Fund and Feed the Children.
Bengals Ring of Honor Members
Like many teams across the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals have a Ring of Honor is order to celebrate and acknowledge some of the greatest players in franchise history. Cincinnati's Ring of Honor is relatively new, as it was started in 2021.
" Pro Football Hall of Fame members are automatically inducted in Cincinnati's R.O.H, while other additional qualifications include Pro Bowls, team records and individual achievements. New inductees into the Ring of Honor are voted on by Bengals season ticket members and suite holders.
So, who is officially in Cincinnati's Ring of Honor? As it stands currently, there have been eight inductees. They are:
- Anthony Muñoz (1980-1992)
- Paul Brown (Owner, 1968-1991)
- Ken Anderson (1971-1986)
- Ken Riley (1969-1983)
- Willie Anderson (1996-2007)
- Isaac Curtis (1973-1984)
- Boomer Esiason (1984-1992, 1997)
- Chad Johnson (2001-2010)
Boomer Esiason's Induction
As for Esiason, he received the news from Bengals owner Mike Brown in a phone call. The news was exciting for Esiason but he said he didnt’ expect to land such an honorific recognition, especially five years ago.
However, Esiason has seen the changes that have taken place with Brown’s grandaughter, Caroline Blackburn, who has helped engineer the concept of the now three-year-old Ring of Honor. Even an old-timer like Esiason likes the new school approach.
“There’s an emphasis to reunite the older players with the newer players and the older fans with the younger fans and it’s great to be going in now because the team is so good,” Esiason said.
Although Esiason and Johnson come from two different eras in Bengals history, the Ring of Honor will allow the two legends to be closer to one another. Each of them expanded on their relationship with the other with mutual respect and high praises.
“It’s a great honor to go in with Boomer Esiason. Obviously, we know what he’s meant to the organization throughout the years and during his tenure there,” Johnson said about his new fellow inductee Esiason.
“I think Chad Johnson was a trendsetter when he played and he basically opened the door for all of these players to do their celebration that they’re doing now,” Boomer said about Johnson with a smile.
Future Inductees
Who’s next on the list of future inductees? Corey Dillon? Cris Collinsworth? Max Montoya? Dillon’s time might not come soon after his explosive comments about the Ring of Honor’s setup and the logistics behind the voting.
Whether Dillon, Collinsworth or any of this year’s nominees make it next year or beyond, Esiason has faith they’ll get inducted just like himself.
“Their time is coming and, like me, we had to wait, so that’s why I thought it wasn’t going to happen until I saw Anthony Muñoz on that field with Ken Anderson,” Esiason said.
A couple of current Bengals players could eventually be added to the team's Ring of Honor. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has been downright dynamic during his first three seasons with the Bengals.
Chase had over 1,000 yards in all three seasons, and he's already a three-time Pro Bowler. He still has a long way to go, but if he continues to play at such an elite level for an extended time, Chase could easily be added to the team's Ring of Honor one day.
Similarly, the man who throws the ball to Chase -- quarterback Joe Burrow -- should also have a strong case. Over his first four seasons, Burrow led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance, was named to a Pro Bowl and was also named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2021.
He's also put up some serious stats. The LSU product already has over 14,000 passing yards and 97 touchdowns to his name, despite missing some serious time during his first four campaigns due to injury issues.
If Burrow can continue to produce at such a high level and stay out on the field, he'll be a R.O.H. shoe-in.
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