Andrew Whitworth, drafted in the second round (55th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft from LSU—where he contributed to the 2003 BCS National Championship team—became a key figure on the Ohio River. He quickly secured a starting spot, enabling an 11-year tenure as the Bengals' primary leader and foundation on the offensive line.

Standing at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 330 pounds, Whitworth was anything but small. He possessed exceptional height combined with quick footwork and a powerful punch. Although some scouts doubted whether his long frame was ideal for interior play, Whitworth proved them wrong when he transitioned to left tackle. He utilized his extensive wingspan and lateral agility to effectively block top-tier edge rushers and shield the blind side of quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton.

Whitworth played 12 games at left tackle as a rookie, but injuries caused Cincinnati to shift their line, moving him to left guard for his second and third seasons. He adapted to the change smoothly, demonstrating his interior strength, before settling back permanently at his natural left tackle position in 2009.

Once established at left tackle, Whitworth began an exceptional second phase of his career, defying usual aging patterns by performing at his peak well into his thirties. In 2012, he gave up only one sack throughout the season and earned his first Pro Bowl invitation.

His career highlight in Cincinnati came in 2015 when he played all 16 games, achieving an Approximate Value (AV) of 19 without allowing any sacks. This performance earned him Consensus First-Team All-Pro honors and his second Pro Bowl selection, helping Cincinnati secure a 12–4 division title. In 2016, he continued his strong play, earning a Second-Team All-Pro recognition and his third Pro Bowl appearance.

In March 2017, the Bengals let the 35-year-old veteran leave in free agency, a decision they soon regretted. Whitworth joined the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent five more outstanding seasons, earning another First-Team All-Pro honor, receiving the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, and concluding his career with a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Bengals. During his time with the Rams, Whitworth played 168 regular-season games (164 starts), achieved a career AV of 96, and proved to be one of the franchise's best tackle prospects.

Drafted in the seventh round (163rd overall) of the 1970 NFL Draft out of Lincoln University of Missouri, Lemar Parrish stepped onto the professional scene as an unheralded small-school prospect. It took almost no time for "Leapin' Lemar" to establish himself as one of the most explosive, multifaceted defensive backs and return specialists in the game.

Parrish blended flawless, mirror-like coverage abilities with exceptional speed in open field situations. Playing as a left cornerback, he demonstrated smooth hip movements to turn and track elite receivers, keen instincts for intercepting passes, and superior vision when handling the ball. Each time he intercepted a pass, returned a punt, or recovered a loose ball, Parrish was a constant threat to score a touchdown.

Parrish's rookie year in 1970 was remarkable, as he started 11 games at cornerback, making five interceptions, scoring on a 95-yard kickoff return, and returning a blocked field goal 83 yards for a touchdown. His all-around performance quickly earned him a Pro Bowl selection. In 1971, he continued to excel with seven interceptions and another touchdown, earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl.

Although he had excellent defensive performances in 1972 and 1973, with five interceptions and three non-offensive touchdowns in those two seasons, he was surprisingly not selected for the Pro Bowl.

Parrish responded by achieving an impressive four-year streak of accolades from 1974 to 1977. In 1974, he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection after leading the NFL with a remarkable 18.8-yard punt return average, returning two punts for touchdowns. He continued his success with another Second-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl appearance in 1975, secured a third straight Pro Bowl invite and earned First-Team All-Pro honors in 1976, and concluded his Bengals career with a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl in 1977.

After the 1977 season, contract disagreements resulted in Parrish being traded to the Washington Redskins. He maintained his high level of performance in the capital, intercepting 21 passes over four seasons, earning two further Pro Bowl selections (1979, 1980), and receiving a First-Team All-Pro honor in 1979.

In Cincinnati, Parrish played 105 games (101 starts), with 25 interceptions (fifth in franchise history) and 13 non-offensive touchdowns from interceptions, punts, kickoffs, fumbles, and blocked kicks—a franchise record. In 2024, he was inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor, cementing his legacy.

Selected fourth overall in the 2011 NFL Draft out of Georgia, A.J. Green arrived in Cincinnati as the highest-drafted receiver in the class and an immediate game-changer. Stepping onto the field alongside fellow rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, Green launched a decade-defining partnership that transformed the Bengals into a perennial playoff contender.

Green was the prototype for a smooth, boundary-dominating wide receiver. Combining fluid stride length with an acrobatic catch radius and elite spatial awareness, he possessed an extraordinary ability to win contested 50/50 balls in tight coverage. Whether climbing over cornerbacks on back-shoulder fades, tracking deep vertical throws, or gliding down the sideline, Green made the most difficult catches look completely effortless.

Green burst onto the pro scene in 2011, immediately proving that his elite college production translated to the NFL. He recorded 65 receptions for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns, becoming the first rookie wide receiver to earn a Pro Bowl selection in eight years.

That debut sparked one of the most sustained runs of wide receiver dominance in league history, as Green earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first seven NFL seasons (2011–2017). In 2012, he recorded 97 catches for 1,350 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns, earning his first Second-Team All-Pro selection. The following year, in 2013, he topped those numbers with a career-best 98 receptions for 1,426 yards and 11 touchdowns—a stretch highlighted by a franchise-record five consecutive 100-yard games—to capture his second Second-Team All-Pro honor.

Green kept his 1,000-yard streak alive over the next two years, hauling in 10 touchdowns in 2015 to help power Cincinnati to a 12–4 AFC North division title. Despite missing six games due to an ankle injury in 2016, he still racked up 964 yards in just 10 games. He bounced back in 2017 with 75 catches for 1,078 yards and eight scores.

Over his first seven years, Green surpassed 1,000 yards six times and reached double-digit touchdowns three times. He ranked in the top ten in receiving yards three times and in receiving touchdowns four times during that span, firmly establishing himself among the elite receivers of his generation.

Injuries eventually slowed his dominant run, culminating in a torn ankle ligament that cost him the entire 2019 campaign. He returned for one final season in Cincinnati in 2020 before spending two years with the Arizona Cardinals. In September 2023, Green returned to the franchise to sign a one-day contract and officially retire as a Cincinnati Bengal.

With Cincinnati, Green played 127 games, recording 659 receptions, 9,430 yards, and 65 touchdowns, including a franchise-record 33 games with 100+ yards.

Willie Anderson, from Auburn, was selected 10th overall in the 1996 NFL Draft. Coming from Auburn, Anderson entered the NFL as a powerful presence, quickly securing a starting position at right tackle. Over the next decade or more, he served as the key pillar of the Bengals' offensive line.

At 6 feet 5 inches and over 340 pounds, Anderson possessed a rare blend of colossal raw power, long reach, and quick-setting footwork. In an era where pass rushers like Julius Peppers, Michael Strahan, and Reggie White often lined up over the right tackle, Anderson neutralized the league's elite edge rushers single-handedly. He brought a brutal, road-grading demeanor to the run game, creating massive lanes for backfield stars like Corey Dillon and Rudi Johnson.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Anderson stood as a steady anchor on struggling Cincinnati rosters, routinely shutting down premier edge defenders every Sunday. He was the key blocker up front in 2000 when Corey Dillon famously set the then-NFL single-game rushing record with 278 yards against the Denver Broncos.

Under head coach Marvin Lewis, the franchise improved, and Anderson finally received the national recognition he had deserved for years. In 2003, he began a remarkable four-year period of dominance, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and Second-Team All-Pro honors. During this time, he also helped Rudi Johnson achieve a breakout season.

In 2004, he achieved his first First-Team All-Pro honor and participated in his second Pro Bowl, protecting Carson Palmer’s right side. The high standards continued in 2005, with another First-Team All-Pro recognition and a Pro Bowl selection, contributing to an 11–5 AFC North champion team with one of the NFL's most potent offenses. He wrapped up his four-year streak of elite accolades in 2006 with his third consecutive First-Team All-Pro and fourth straight Pro Bowl appearance, solidifying his reputation as the premier right tackle.

After leaving Cincinnati before the 2008 season, Anderson played his last NFL year with the Baltimore Ravens, a division rival. He started 11 games at right tackle, contributing to Baltimore's run to the AFC Championship Game before retiring. In 2021, the Bengals officially honored him by inducting Anderson into their Ring of Honor. He is considered one of the greatest offensive linemen in franchise history, second only to Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz.