Selected in the tenth round (276th overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft from the University of Wisconsin, Tim Krumrie developed from an overlooked underdog into one of the most productive interior defenders in the history of football. Throughout a 12-year career spent solely with Cincinnati, Krumrie transformed the role of nose tackle, combining exceptional physical resilience with sideline-to-sideline pursuit, thereby establishing himself as a genuine franchise icon.

Krumrie demonstrated intense vigor while operating with a powerful motor, drawing upon his collegiate wrestling background and a keen focus on shedding blocks. Serving as the anchor in Cincinnati's 3-4 defensive scheme, he persistently fought through double-teams to disrupt running plays before their development. His uncommon mobility for an interior lineman allowed him to pursue ball-carriers from behind, converting a position typically dedicated to absorbing blocks into a prolific tackle role.

Krumrie was incorporated into the starting lineup in 1984 and swiftly established himself as a formidable presence, recording 84 tackles and 5.0 sacks. He led the Cincinnati Bengals in tackles for four consecutive seasons from 1985 through 1988, an exceptional achievement for an interior nose tackle. In 1987, he received his initial Pro Bowl selection following the accumulation of 88 tackles and 3.5 sacks over 12 games.

His most distinguished individual campaign occurred in 1988, during which he received First-Team All-Pro honors and was honored with his second Pro Bowl selection. Krumrie accumulated an impressive total of 152 tackles and 3.0 sacks, acting as the defensive pillar for a squad that advanced to the AFC Championship and participated in Super Bowl XXIII. Despite sustaining a severe broken leg early in that Super Bowl, Krumrie undertook a remarkable rehabilitation process, resuming the role of starter in all 16 games of the 1989 season and maintaining an unbroken streak of 96 games following his injury. He continued to be a fundamental figure into the early 1990s, culminating in leading the Bengals in tackles once more at the age of 32 with 97 stops in 1992.

Krumrie retired after the 1994 season, having never missed a non-strike NFL game in 12 years. He then became Cincinnati's defensive line coach for eight seasons. In 2024, he was inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor as the first defensive lineman to earn this honor. Over his career, Krumrie played 188 games (161 starts), with 1,017 tackles, 34.5 sacks, and 13 fumble recoveries.