CINCINNATI — “One of the greatest Bengals ever,” Ken Riley, has died at the age of 72, the Cincinnati Bengals tweeted on Sunday.
Riley accumulated the fifth-most interceptions in NFL history and was selected as an All-Pro three times in 15 seasons with the team.
We mourn the passing of one of the greatest Bengals ever, Ken Riley (1947-2020). In 15 seasons with the team, Ken accumulated the fifth-most interceptions in NFL history and was selected as an All-Pro three times. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time. pic.twitter.com/e2AXAAi3Kw
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) June 7, 2020
Bengals owner Mike Brown released the following statement on Riley’s passing:
"Everybody here loved Kenny. He had everyone's respect. He was a success with us, and after his playing career as a coach and athletic director at Florida A&M. When he came here, Kenny and Lemar Parrish had never played cornerback, and they're the two best we've ever had. And we've had a lot of good ones. We put him over there for a decade and a half and we didn't have to worry about it. Kenny was quick to the point of the ball as a great interceptor and he was an excellent tackler, even though he wasn't a very big man. I'm going to miss him. He was a good guy and a solid man. We send our condolences to his family."
Sad to see the death of former Bengals CB Ken Riley. A quiet but effective leader, a real top-notch guy and along with Ken Anderson, a player who deserves HOF consideration. Picked the Raiders Jim Plunkett 3 times in one game at Riverfront in 1982
— John Popovich WCPO (@Popo_WCPOSports) June 7, 2020
.@WCPO
