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1969 Cincinnati Bengals season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Cincinnati Bengals

| logo =

| year = 1969

| record = 4–9–1

| division_place = 5th AFL West

| coach = Paul Brown

| stadium = Nippert Stadium

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| shortnavlink = Bengals seasons

}}

The 1969 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's second year as a franchise, and their final season in professional football's American Football League (AFL).

Head coach Paul Brown drafted quarterback Greg Cook of the University of Cincinnati in the first round.

The same draft also produced linebacker Bill Bergey.

The Bengals jumped out to a 3–0 record, but finished 4–9–1 in their final season at Nippert Stadium, before moving to their brand new facility the following season.

The November 9, 1969 Bengals vs. Oilers game at the Astrodome in Houston is unique in Bengals history, as it is the only non-overtime tie game. Cincinnati played its first regular-season tie that afternoon, catching the Oilers at 31–31 on kicker Horst Muhlmann's 18-yard field goal with 0:22 left in the fourth quarter. Regular-season overtime was not in the rule book at that time.

The oldest season record in Bengals history, and the only one still standing from the Nippert Stadium years, is QB Greg Cook's average of 9.41 yards gained per passing attempt in 1969. The only other average of more than nine yards was 9.21 by QB Boomer Esiason in 1988. Cook went on to pass for 1,854 yards and led the Bengals to wins over the Oakland Raiders and the eventual Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Offseason

=Common draft=

{{main article|1969 NFL Draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1969

| teamname = Cincinnati Bengals

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 5

| player = Greg Cook

| position = Quarterback

| college = Cincinnati

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 31

| player = Bill Bergey

| position = Linebacker

| college = Arkansas State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 57

| player = Speedy Thomas

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Utah

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 83

| player = Clem Turner

| position = Running back

| college = Cincinnati

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 109

| player = Guy Dennis

| position = Guard

| college = Florida

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 135

| player = Ken Riley

| position = Defensive back

| college = Florida A&M

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 161

| player = Royce Berry

| position = Defensive end

| college = Houston

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 187

| player = Tim Buchanan

| position = Linebacker

| college = Hawaii

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 213

| player = Mike Stripling

| position = Running back

| college = Tulsa

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 239

| player = Steve Howell

| position = Tight end

| college = Ohio State

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 265

| player = Mark Stewart

| position = Defensive back

| college = Georgia

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 291

| player = Lonnie Paige

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = North Carolina Central

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 13

| pick = 316

| player = Chuck Benson

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Southern Illinois

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 14

| pick = 343

| player = Mike Wilson

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Dayton

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 15

| pick = 369

| player = Bill Shoemaker

| position = Placekicker

| college = Stanford

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 16

| pick = 395

| player = Bill Schmidt

| position = Linebacker

| college = Missouri

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 17

| pick = 421

| player = Terry Story

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Georgia Tech

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/1969_draft.htm |title=1969 Cincinnati Bengals draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |accessdate=October 12, 2014 }}

Personnel

=Staff=

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1969

| team = Cincinnati Bengals

| front_office =

  • President – John Sawyer
  • Director of Player Personnel – Pete Brown

| head_coach =

| offensive =

| defensive =

}}

=Roster=

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1969

| team = Cincinnati Bengals

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|12|Greg Cook|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|14|Sam Wyche}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|19|Essex Johnson}}

{{NFLplayer|40|Ron Lamb}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Jess Phillips|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|18|Paul Robinson|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|43|Clem Turner|rookie=y}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|10|Eric Crabtree}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Jack Gehrke}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Chip Myers}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Tommie Smith}}

{{NFLplayer|17|Speedy Thomas|rookie=y}}

| tight_ends =

{{NFLplayer|88|Bruce Coslet|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|84|Bob Trumpy}}

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|64|Justin Canale|G}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Guy Dennis|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Howard Fest|T}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Bob Johnson|d=American football|C}}

{{NFLplayer|73|Pat Matson|G}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Dave Middendorf|G}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Ernie Park|G/T}}

{{NFLplayer|77|Frank Peters|d=American football|rookie=y|T}}

{{NFLplayer|67|Michael Wilson|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|G}}

{{NFLplayer|75|Ernie Wright|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|85|Martin Baccaglio|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Royce Berry|rookie=y|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|79|Steve Chomyszak|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|89|Harry Gunner|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Andy Rice|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Bill Staley|DT}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|51|Ken Avery|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|58|Al Beauchamp|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Bill Bergey|rookie=y|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Tim Buchanan||d=American football|rookie=y|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Ed Harmon|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Bill Peterson|d=linebacker|OLB}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|23|Al Coleman|S}}

{{NFLplayer|28|John Guillory|d=American football|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Bobby Hunt|d=American football|S}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Jim Johnson|d=American football, born 1945|S}}

{{NFLplayer|47|Charlie King|d=American football|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|13|Ken Riley|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|31|Fletcher Smith|d=American football|CB}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer|11|Dale Livingston|P}}

{{NFLplayer|16|Horst Muhlmann|rookie=y|K}}

{{NFLplayer|41|Terry Swanson|P}}

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

{{NFLplayer|--|Mark Stewart|d=American football|rookie=y|DB}}

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cin/1969_roster.htm |title=1969 Cincinnati Bengals starters, roster, and players |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |accessdate=October 20, 2014 }}

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| September 14

| Miami Dolphins

| W 27–21

| 1–0

| Nippert Stadium

| 25,335

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196909140cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 21

| San Diego Chargers

| W 34–20

| 2–0

| Nippert Stadium

| 26,243

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196909210cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| September 28

| Kansas City Chiefs

| W 24–19

| 3–0

| Nippert Stadium

| 27,812

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196909280cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| {{dow tooltip|October 4, 1969}}

| at San Diego Chargers

| L 14–21

| 3–1

| San Diego Stadium

| 52,748

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910040sdg.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 12

| New York Jets

| L 7–21

| 3–2

| Nippert Stadium

| 27,927

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910120cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 19

| Denver Broncos

| L 23–30

| 3–3

| Nippert Stadium

| 27,920

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910190cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| October 26

| at Kansas City Chiefs

| L 22–42

| 3–4

| Municipal Stadium

| 50,934

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196910260kan.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 8

| November 2

| Oakland Raiders

| W 31–17

| 4–4

| Nippert Stadium

| 27,927

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911020cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#ffc"

! 9

| November 9

| at Houston Oilers

| T 31–31

| 4–4–1

| Houston Astrodome

| 45,298

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911090oti.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 16

| Boston Patriots

| L 14–25

| 4–5–1

| Nippert Stadium

| 25,913

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911160cin.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 11

| November 23

| at New York Jets

| L 7–40

| 4–6–1

| Shea Stadium

| 62,128

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911230nyj.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| November 30

| at Buffalo Bills

| L 13–16

| 4–7–1

| War Memorial Stadium

| 35,122

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196911300buf.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| December 7

| at Oakland Raiders

| L 17–37

| 4–8–1

| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum

| 54,427

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912070rai.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 14

| December 14

| at Denver Broncos

| L 16–27

| 4–9–1

| Mile High Stadium

| 42,198

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196912140den.htm Recap]

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Cincinnati Bengals|year=1969|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

{{1969 AFL Western standings}}

=Team stats=

class="wikitable"

! colspan="100" style="background-color: #ED4E16;" "style="font-size: 95%"|1969 Cincinnati Bengals Team Stats

TEAM STATS

! Bengals

! Opponents

style="font-size: 95%"| TOTAL FIRST DOWNS

| 172

| 278

align="right"| Rushing

| 66

| 135

align="right"| Passing

| 95

| 130

align="right"| Penalty

| 11

| 13

style="font-size: 95%"| TOTAL NET YARDS

| 3868

| 5337

align="right"| Avg Per Game

| 276.3

| 381.2

align="right"| Total Plays

| 728

| 935

align="right"| Avg. Per Play

| 5.3

| 5.7

style="font-size: 95%"| NET YARDS RUSHING

| 1523

| 2651

align="right"| Avg. Per Game

| 167.5

| 189.4

align="right"| Total Rushes

| 363

| 523

style="font-size: 95%"| NET YARDS PASSING

| 2345

| 2686

align="right"| Avg. Per Game

| 167.5

| 191.9

align="right"| Sacked Yards Lost

| 57–375

| 16–180

align="right"| Gross Yards

| 2720

| 2866

align="right"| Att. Completions

| 308–163

| 396–205

align="right"| Completion Pct.

| 52.9

| 51.8

align="right"| Intercepted

| 15

| 21

style="font-size: 95%"| PUNTS-AVERAGE

| 85–38.8

| 55–41.4

style="font-size: 95%"| PENALTIES-YARDS

| 50–556

| 72–824

style="font-size: 95%"|FUMBLES-BALL LOST

| 30–25

| 19–16

style="font-size: 95%"| TOUCHDOWNS

| 33

| 42

align="right"| Rushing

| 10

| 13

align="right"| Passing

| 22

| 24

align="right"| Returns

| 1

| 5

class="wikitable"
Score by Periods

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! Tot

Bengals

| 48

| 92

| 72

| 68

| 280

Opponents

| 78

| 130

| 68

| 91

| 367

=Team leaders=

  • Passing: Greg Cook (197 Att, 106 Comp, 1854 Yds, 53.8 Pct, 15 TD, 11 Int, 88.3 Rating)
  • Rushing: Jess Phillips (118 Att, 578 Yds, 4.9 Avg, 83 Long, 3 TD)
  • Receiving: Eric Crabtree (40 Rec, 855 Yds, 21.4 Avg, 73 Long, 7 TD)
  • Scoring: Horst Muhlmann, 80 points (16 FG; 32 PAT)

Awards and records

=AFL Coach of the Year=

= AFL Passing Title=

=AFL Defensive Rookie of the Year=

=AFL Pro Bowl Selections=

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Cincinnati Bengals}}

{{Cincinnati Bengals seasons}}

{{1969 AFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1969 Cincinnati Bengals Season}}

Cincinnati Bengals

Category:Cincinnati Bengals seasons

Cincinnati

{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}