Ken Anderson was drafted in the third round (67th overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft from Division III Augustana College. He joined Cincinnati quietly, without the fanfare typically given to marquee college stars. Throughout his 16-year career with the Bengals, Anderson developed into an accurate passer, a trailblazer of contemporary offensive strategies, and one of the most productive quarterbacks in franchise history.

Anderson provided a clear blueprint for effective passing. Under offensive coordinator Bill Walsh's guidance, he became the primary driver of what is now called the "West Coast Offense." Anderson emphasized quick reads, precise dropback footwork, and accurate ball placement on short and intermediate horizontal routes. While he had the arm strength to challenge defenses deep, his true skill was in his decision-making—consistently taking what defenses allowed and avoiding costly turnovers.

Anderson assumed the permanent starting role in 1972, guiding Cincinnati to a 7-6 record before emerging as a top-tier passer in the following two years. In 1974, he won his first league passing titles, leading the NFL in passing yards (2,667) and passer rating (95.7), with a completion percentage of 64.9%.

He led the NFL in passing yards again in 1975, with 3,169 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning his first Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors. Off the field, his character was recognized with the 1975 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. He continued his excellence with another Pro Bowl appearance in 1976, consistently helping Cincinnati remain in playoff contention despite roster changes late in the decade.

Anderson's career reached its peak in 1981. After overcoming early-season setbacks, he delivered an outstanding season, achieving career bests with 3,754 passing yards, 29 touchdown passes, and a league-best 98.4 passer rating. He secured all major individual awards, including the AP NFL MVP, AP Comeback Player of the Year, AP Offensive Player of the Year, and the Bert Bell Award, along with First-Team All-Pro honors.

Most importantly, Anderson guided Cincinnati to a 12–4 record, a legendary victory over San Diego in the icy "Freezer Bowl," and the franchise's first-ever appearance in Super Bowl XVI. In the championship game against San Francisco, Anderson completed 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns, setting a then-Super Bowl record for completion percentage (73.5%).

During the strike-shortened 1982 season, Anderson set an NFL single-season record by completing 70.6% of his passes (218 of 309 for 2,495 yards), a record that stood for nearly three decades. He earned his fourth career Pro Bowl nod and led the league in completion percentage once more in 1983 (66.7%).

As injuries began to take their toll, Anderson transitioned into a backup role behind Boomer Esiason before retiring following the 1986 campaign. Across 16 seasons in Cincinnati, he played in 192 regular-season games, holding enduring franchise records with 32,838 passing yards and 197 touchdown passes, while adding 2,220 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on the ground. At the time of his retirement, he ranked sixth in NFL history in career passing yardage.

Long regarded as one of the finest quarterbacks not yet enshrined in Canton, Anderson reached the final doorstep as a Senior Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. When the franchise created the Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor in 2021, Anderson was fittingly enshrined as one of the four inaugural charter members alongside Anthony Muñoz, Paul Brown, and Ken Riley.