How did the Cincinnati Bengals get their name? Origin and meaning

With a story that dates back to before World War II, the Bengals are very much a part of the fabric of American football, let’s take a look.

Paul Rudder

Paul RudderEnglish_ASUpdate: Jan 26th, 2022 06:38 EST

As they prepare for the biggest game of their season, we take a look at the historic roots of the team from Cincinnati and where they got their name from.

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With a history that dates back more than four decades, the Bengals have been a long standing part of American football.

Where did the Bengals get there name?

To find the origins of the Bengals team in professional football, we have to go back to 1937 in Ohio when a team first carried the name Cincinnati Bengals. As a member of the initial American Football League the Bengals introduction to the professional game was actually quite short lived. The league folded after just one season during which the Bengals managed only two wins to go with four losses and two ties. The team continued to play as an independent team, but would finally join a newly formed American Football League in 1939. Then in 1940, a third American Football League formed, and the Cincinnati Bengals joined it, however, once again fate had other plans as World War II began thereby significantly reducing the availability of men as they joined they armed forces. Sadly the AFL went under after just one season.

This date 1967: Paul Brown unveils the name "Bengals" for the new AFL franchise.The most popular nickname chosen by fans in The Cincinnati Post Times-Star contest: "Buckeyes"Other names suggested:Romans, Celtics, Krauts.-Per @GeoffHobsonCin book This Date in Bengals History pic.twitter.com/ZtC4lIDm7U

— LanceMcAlister (@LanceMcAlister) October 27, 2020

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