It has been announced that WR Chad Johnson and QB Boomer Esiason will be inducted into the Bengals ring of honour. The ceremony will take place at halftime of the Bengals game against the Rams on September 25.
Johnson was drafted by the Bengals in the 2nd round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He went on to become one of the league’s best receivers, while bringing some personality to a team that had a hard time gaining recognition. In the decade spent in Cincinnati, he topped 1,000 yards 7 times, and led the league in 2006. Johnson’s career high was 1,440 receiving yards, which came in 2007. He finished his Bengals career with 751 receptions for 10,783 yards and 66 TD, while adding another 175 yards rushing.
Esiason was selected by the Bengals in the 2nd round of the 1984 NFL Draft, becoming one of the league’s best QB’s early in his career. During the 1988 season, he led the Bengals to their second Super Bowl appearance, losing narrowly to the 49ers. Esiason was traded to the Jets in 1993, but returned to the Bengals for a second stint in 1997, going 4-1 in their final 5 games. In his decade spent in Cincinnati, Esiason totaled 2,015 completions for 37,920 yards and 247 TD’s, while also adding 1,355 yards and 7 TD’s on the ground.
Johnson and Esiason will be joining Paul Brown, Anthony Muñoz, Ken Riley, Ken Anderson, Willie Anderson, and Isaac Curtis in the ring of honour.
