Selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of TCU, Andy Dalton stepped straight into the fire in Cincinnati. Winning the starting quarterback job as a rookie, "The Red Rifle" immediately established stability under center and spearheaded one of the most consistent regular-season runs in franchise history.

Dalton depended on rapid decision-making, precise timing, and swift processing capabilities. Excelling in fast-paced, rhythm-oriented passing systems, he demonstrated proficiency in pre-snap diagnostics, efficiently distributing the ball to intermediate targets such as A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert before pass rushers could close in. His mobility within the pocket and acute short-area vision further enabled him to sustain drives through subtle pocket adjustments or opportunistic scrambles into open space.

Dalton made an immediate impact during his 2011 rookie campaign, throwing for 3,398 yards and 20 touchdowns to earn his first Pro Bowl selection while leading Cincinnati to a 9–7 record and a surprise playoff berth. He built on that initial success in 2012 by raising his output to 3,669 yards and 27 passing touchdowns, guiding the Bengals back to the postseason with a 10–6 mark. His finest statistical output came in 2013, when he set Bengals franchise single-season records with 4,293 passing yards and 33 touchdowns, carrying Cincinnati to an 11–5 record and an AFC North division title.

The enduring tradition of success persisted into 2014 as Dalton passed for 3,398 yards and 19 touchdowns, while additionally contributing four rushing scores, thereby earning his second Pro Bowl selection and securing a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. In 2015, he was performing at the peak of his career, achieving a career-best passer rating of 106.2 with 25 touchdowns against only seven interceptions over 13 games, prior to an abrupt interruption of his MVP-caliber season due to a fractured thumb.

Even as the roster around him shifted, Dalton remained productive in 2016, eclipsing the four-thousand-yard mark for the second time with 4,206 passing yards and earning his third career Pro Bowl selection. In 2017, he threw for 3,320 yards and 25 touchdowns, highlighted by a legendary Week 17 touchdown pass to Tyler Boyd that defeated Baltimore and famously snapped the Buffalo Bills' 17-year playoff drought. Injuries limited Dalton to 11 starts in 2018, though he still compiled 2,566 yards and 21 touchdowns before a thumb injury ended his year. He closed out his tenure in Southwest Ohio during a transitional 2019 season under new head coach Zac Taylor, throwing for 3,494 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 starts.

Following the selection of Joe Burrow as the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Cincinnati officially released Andy Dalton in April 2020 after nine seasons of service. He subsequently played for Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans, and Carolina, leaving Cincinnati as the Bengals' all-time franchise leader in completions (2,757), passing yards (31,594), and passing touchdowns (204).