Pre-Super Bowl NFL Champions

[ace63]

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Cincinnati Bengals (AFL)
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This article is about the Cincinnati Bengals team that existed 1937-1941. For current NFL team of the same name, see Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals

Founded 1937
Folded 1942
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Home field Crosley Field
Xavier University Stadium
League American Football League II (1937)
Independent (1938)
APFA (1939)
American Football League III
Team History Cincinnati Bengals (1936-41)
Team Colors Unknown
Head coaches Hal Pennington (1936)
Dana King (1937-1941)
General managers Hal Pennington (1936)
Owner(s) Queen City Athletics, Inc.

Cincinnati Bengals was the name of a short-lived professional football team that played in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is unrelated to the current Cincinnati Bengals. Originated by Hal Pennington (who was also the team's first head coach and general manager),[1] the team was formed as a member of the second American Football League in the 1937 season. The Bengals finished with a 2-3-2 record in their first year, but the league folded after the season, and Pennington returned to his former team, the Cincinnati Models, which would change its name to the Cincinnati Blades for an ill-fated 1938 campaign. Pennington was replaced by new player-coach Dana King, who would guide the Bengals for the remainder of the team's existence.

The Bengals continued as an independent team in 1938 (rejecting overtures from the former Midwest Football League, first as the league renamed itself the American Football League and in October 1938 after the dissolution of the Cincinnati Blades). In 1939, the team joined the newly-renamed American Professional Football Association after yet another overture, finishing in second place with a 6-2-0 record. The APFA folded as Cincinnati, the Columbus Bullies, and the newly-formed Milwaukee Chiefs defected to a newly formed major league, yet another American Football League, for the 1940 season.

In 1940 and 1941, the two Ohio AFL teams were fairly successful at the gate (rivaling their NFL counterparts), before the AFL suspended operations in response of the Pearl Harbor attack. Although the league announced plans for a continuation (an expansion franchise was awarded to Detroit for the 1942 season before the United States entered World War II), the "third AFL" (and the fourth professional league with the name) never returned to business.

Professional football returned to Cincinnati 26 years after the original Cincinnati Bengals folded. It was in the year 1967 when Paul Brown headed an ownership group that landed an expansion franchise in the modern-era American Football League that merged with the NFL in 1969. Brown, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who founded and coached the Cleveland Browns from 1946–62, picked the name Bengals for the new team "to give it a link with past professional football in Cincinnati."

[85inside]

had to chuckle when I read that any bengals fans were "front runners." Just exactly when have they been in "front?" Probably not since Paul Brown died anyway.

[ace63]

Have to give bengals credit. There trying to win. Brought in some good free agents, The draft has been good. 2005 afc north champs 2009 sweep league and won afc north. They need to get over hump and there trying. Coach zimmer great pick up, gave them the number 4 defense last year and I think he will do better. The only way you can bad mouth the bengals now is (if your a hater) and you are. I give mike brown hats off latley for letting his coaches run the show.
Most of us are true fans. were not team jumpers. The browns have never been to a super bowl, But they have a very loyal fan base.

[ace63]

Well i thought that it pointed out that the browns fans are loyal and not team jumpers. I think that is something to be proud of . Not like some . I respect you and that you have stayed a browns fan and not jump to other teams.
It was all good. And it would be real hard for the bengals to win one of those championships because they didnt have a team then. :122249

[The General]

I cant really understand how someone in Ohio could root for the Bengals on any day,much less prefer them over the Cleveland Browns. But this America. It takes all kinds.

[dazed&confused]

I consider the clock reset to 1999 for the Browns. If you want to split hairs, the Browns won the Super Bowl in 2001, just charading as the Baltimore Ravens.

[ace63]

I consider the clock reset to 1999 for the Browns. If you want to split hairs, the Browns won the Super Bowl in 2001, just charading as the Baltimore Ravens.

So the old portsmouth spartins football nfl team was sold to detroit lions years ago. So if the lions were to win a superbowl it would really be the portsmouth spartins that won . Some how it dont seem right. I would say the lions won.

[ace63]

Did you know that the bengals had a team in 1937 ?

[ace63]

Most of us know that the current Cincinnati Bengals was founded by Paul Brown, who teamed with then governor James A. Rhodes to petition the AFL for expansion on behalf of Cincinnati, landing the franchise in 1967. So how did Paul Brown settle on the nickname "Bengals"? Did he have an affection for the animal (yes, they are majestic) or did he feel the name would send chills into the opposition? He decided on the name to connect the present day franchise to distant Cincinnati football history. Although not storied, there was a Cincinnati Bengals franchise long before the present version.

The original version of the Cincinnati Bengals was formed in 1937 as part of a second American Football League. Much like Paul Brown, Hal Pennington founded the franchise, becoming the team's first head coach. Their performance is not considered stellar, finishing 2-4-2 and fourth in a league with six teams. They also played two games outside the league splitting both, beating the Atlanta Crackers 36-7 and losing to a team of College All-stars 6-3. Tackle Bill Steinkemper, center Lee Mulleneaux and back Don Geyer were selected for the all-league team. Pennington left the team after the season for his original team, the Cincinnati Models, and was replaced by player-coach Dana King.

[ace63]

Yea, you can say cleveland really got screwed. Because they did.