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NFL Greats
Ken Riley, Cincinnati
by Sam Monson
1/10/2007
Just let your deeds do the talking.
 That’s something you get taught as a kid. Do things the right way, there’s no need to be flashy, there’s no need to draw attention to yourself, just go about things the right way, and your actions will do all the talking. Then you’ll get what you deserve. Unfortunately the NFL doesn’t always seem to reward that kind of attitude. The biggest stars today are guys like TO, Chad Johnson, Randy Moss. Guys who are constantly in the media spotlight, and who do more of their talking to the cameras then they do with their play on the field. The Pro-Bowl rewards guys who are visible, guys who make noise and are flashy like DeAngelo Hall, whilst guys who let their play do the talking like Antoine Winfield, get ignored. It’s not a new phenomenon either. In 1976 Ken Riley led the Bengals and the AFC with 9 Interceptions, having played all season, but he was ignored for the Pro Bowl. Instead his flashy partner in the Bengals Defensive backfield, Lemar Parrish, who recorded only 2 interceptions, and missed half the season with injuries, was selected.
Riley’s cold shoulder didn’t end with pro-bowl selections though. Despite retiring 4th on the NFL’s all-time interceptions list with 65, Riley has yet to make the Hall of Fame. There seems to be a trend with the Hall of Fame selection committee too, to ignore some of these guys who just got their job done, and made plays. The latest class of inductees included Roger Wehrli, who amassed 40 career interceptions, was a 5 time All-Pro, and named to the 70s All-Decade team. Wehrli retired in 1982, it took until his last year of eligibility before being cast to the pit of the ‘seniors committee’ before he was inducted. Even Paul Krause, a man who has 81 career interceptions to his name had to wait until 1998 to get in, despite retiring before 1980. Riley himself doesn’t understand the lack of recognition he received during his career, and the lack of consideration he’s had for the Hall of Fame after it. That’s something I don’t understand, a lot of people ask, I could say a whole lot of things, but ask some of the players I played against, and they’d tell you who the best players were.
Riley was a college QB from Florida A&M; University when he was drafted by Paul Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals in the 6th round of the 1969 draft. It wasn’t long before Paul Brown moved Riley to cornerback during his first Training Camp. In his rookie year, despite still learning the position, Riley made an impact, recording 4 interceptions, recovering 2 fumbles, and also helping out returning kicks. From that point Riley went on to play for more than a decade, all with the Bengals, and established himself as one of the game’s best corners. His 9 Interceptions of 1976 would remain a Bengals record for 30 years until Deltha O’Neill topped it by one. He also set a Bengals record, recording 3 interceptions in a single game, on more than one occasion, with 2 of the 3 picks coming against Hall of Fame QB Joe Namath.
Not only did Riley have great peaks to his career, but his longevity is something that separates him from many cornerbacks. His flashier teammate Lemar Parrish may have had the pro-bowls, but he didn’t have Riley’s durability, or his longevity. In 15 seasons of Pro-Football Ken Riley had 65 Interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries. He was responsible for 83 turnovers during his career as a cornerback. There’s only so much you can question a guy’s game in the face of the production he had on a consistent basis. As Riley himself says, 65 all time interceptions, that’s a lot of picks, you’ve got to be doing something right.
 The recognition shouldn’t end with just the stats, or the production though, Riley was a leader, being a team captain for 8 of his seasons with the Bengals. Late in his career he helped led the Bengals to the 1981 SuperBowl, where they were narrowly defeated by the San Francisco 49ers. Despite being named MVP for that game, Joe Montana completed only 14 passes, for just 176 yards, and the 49ers’ leading receiver managed just 52, in large part thanks to Ken Riley’s play on the outside.
After his playing days were over Riley took some of the lessons he learned under Paul Brown and Forrest Gregg and became a coach himself, soon taking over as Head Coach of his alma mater, Florida A&M.; Riley coached Florida A&M; from 1986-1993, earning 2 Mid-Eastern Athletic conference titles and 2 MEAC coach of the year awards.
Like many past NFL greats, Ken Riley is left wondering why his career hasn’t been enough to earn him a space in the Hall of Fame, whether letting his deeds do the talking speaks loud enough for the Hall of Fame selection committee, or whether they need the extra volume of guys who blow their own trumpet.
Whether the Hall of Fame committee can see it or not, Ken Riley was a great NFL player, and remains a great man. The Legendary Paul Brown once said about him, He’s a model football player and a real gentleman, Youngsters would do well to pattern themselves after him. Whilst playing in a small market football town, and playing without being flashy might have hurt Riley’s chances of the Hall of Fame, we here at Football Diner believes he should be recognized, and remembered for the great player he was, and the great man he remains.
For more on Ken Riley be sure to read our exclusive Football Diner Big Interview
Learn More about past NFL greats in our History Archive
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