The Cincinnati Bengals were forced to issue a statement on the Sunday of the Super Bowl condemning the NFL for omitting franchise great Ken Riley from an “In Memoriam” segment that ran the day prior.
The NFL featured the segment during the NFL Honors presentation Saturday and didn’t mention Riley.
Cincinnati released the following statement:
“We are extremely disappointed Ken Riley was not featured in the “In Memoriam” segment during last night’s NFL Honors.
Ken left a great impact on the Bengals and the NFL. His legacy deserves to be honored among the greatest to ever play the game.”
The tweet the Bengals put out:
We are extremely disappointed Ken Riley was not featured in the "In Memoriam" segment during last night’s NFL Honors.
Ken left a great impact on the Bengals and the NFL. His legacy deserves to be honored among the greatest to ever play the game. pic.twitter.com/3SDkupZjga
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) February 7, 2021
Riley’s family responded:
Thank you @Bengals for the support, it was truly disappointing! My father Ken Riley Sr is part of the NFL History. He is # 5 All Time on the Interception list but he was an even better Man!!! It is truly a crime he never got the recognition he deserved.
— Ken Riley II (@KenRileyII1) February 7, 2021
The omission of Riley is an unacceptable oversight by the league. He’s one of the 10 best players to ever suit up for the Bengals, fifth on the all-time interceptions list next to Charles Woodson and an egregious Hall of Fame snub. Former players and coaches have even spoken on the Hall issue, with Dick LeBeau saying Riley “represents what the Hall of Fame is all about.” Cris Collinsworth has offered similar sentiments, for example.
