Playing his college ball at Ohio State, Pete Johnson was a Second Round Pick in 1977 by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Taken in the second round (31st overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft from Tennessee, Carl Pickens joined Cincinnati as a versatile, physical playmaker. With exceptional jumping and catching skills, reliable hands, and a formidable red-zone threat, Pickens swiftly became one of the most potent receiving options of the 1990s.

Pickens started strong as a rookie in 1992, demonstrating his quickness both as a receiver and return specialist. He gained 555 total yards and received AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, quickly becoming a key offensive star for the Bengals.

By 1994, Pickens leveled up into a true primary receiver, cracking the four-figure mark for the first time with 71 receptions for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. That breakout ignited a dominant three-year stretch where he posted at least 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns each season. His 1995 campaign stood as his defining opus, as he hauled in 99 passes for 1,234 receiving yards and led the entire NFL with 17 receiving touchdowns, earning First-Team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection. He backed that up in 1996 with 100 receptions for 1,180 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning a second straight Pro Bowl nod while becoming the first player in Bengals history to catch 100 passes in a single season.

Following a hamstring injury that restricted him to merely four games in 1997, Pickens rebounded in 1998 with his fourth career 1,000-yard season, obtaining 82 receptions for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns. Nevertheless, disagreements with senior management and public criticism of the team's coaching strategy cast a shadow over his final years in Cincinnati. The team even enacted what became known as the "Carl Pickens Clause"—a contractual provision permitting clubs to recover bonuses if a player publicly disparaged the organization.

After the 1999 season, Pickens parted ways with the Bengals and signed with the Tennessee Titans for the 2000 campaign before wrapping up his career with Dallas in 2001. With Cincinnati, Pickens played in 120 regular-season games (110 starts). He generated 530 receptions, 6,887 receiving yards, and 63 receiving touchdowns, along with two punt return touchdowns.

One of the few place kickers drafted (8th round in 1979 from the University of California), Jim Breech had his early NFL journey altered when the Oakland Raiders released him in favor of Chris Bahr. The Cincinnati Bengals seized the opportunity, claiming Breech off waivers in 1980 and securing a steady, clutch-kicking presence who would anchor their special teams unit for the next 13 seasons.

Breech, known for being compact and ice-cold under pressure, proved to be the ultimate cold-weather specialist at Riverfront Stadium. His quick-strike style and talent for performing in high-pressure moments made him a key figure during the franchise’s most successful period. Breech was one of the few players to contribute significantly to both Bengals Super Bowl teams in 1981 and 1988.

His postseason clutch ability is legendary: Breech was perfect with a 9-for-9 record on field goal attempts over nine playoff games, including making all four attempts in Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII. Notably, his 40-yard field goal late in Super Bowl XXIII put Cincinnati ahead 16–13 with just over three minutes left. He also set an NFL record by winning nine overtime games with walk-off field goals, never missing in any extra period.

Breech achieved high-volume efficiency during the 1980s, ranking in the top ten for field goal percentage and total points five times. In 1988, he led the NFL with 53 extra points, contributing to the league's highest-scoring offense and reaching the AFC Championship.

He was Cincinnati’s full-time placekicker until 1992, then retired. Breech played 181 regular-season and nine postseason games, making 225 field goals and 349 extra points for 1,151 points, still a franchise record.

With the third overall pick in 1977, the Bengals selected Eddie Edwards, who arrived in Cincinnati from Miami with a reputation as an unstoppable force along the line of scrimmage. A consensus All-American for the Hurricanes, Edwards gave Forrest Gregg and Bill Walsh an immediate, high-octane anchor to jumpstart the Bengals' defense.

Edwards hit the ground running as an interior force. Lined up at defensive tackle for his first three seasons (1977–1979), his initial burst and heavy hands allowed him to shed guards instantly, earning PFWA All-Rookie honors in 1977.

By 1980, the coaching staff slid him out to defensive end, a move that unlocked his full capability as an edge rusher. Edwards utilized long arms, relentless pursuit, and a sudden change-of-direction stick to terrorize opposing tackles.

His peak arrived in 1983, when he exploded for a career-high 13.0 official sacks. Edwards served as a cornerstone defender during the most iconic era of early Bengals football, starting in Super Bowl XVI in 1981 and anchoring the defensive front through Cincinnati's run to Super Bowl XXIII in 1988.

Because the NFL did not make sacks an official statistic until 1982, his official tally stands at 47.5. However, film study and the work of Pro Football Reference confirm he actually brought down opposing quarterbacks 83.5 times during his tenure, a shadow franchise mark that leads all pass rushers in Cincinnati history.