By Joseph Nichols, Staff Writer

Since the inaugural class of 1963, the NFL Hall of Fame (HOF) has become one of the highest honors in the world of sports. Players who don the golden Hall of Fame jacket are primarily selected for one of three distinctions: they currently place among the all-time league leaders in statistical categories at their position, have marshaled their team to an elusive Super Bowl victory or have greatly helped to innovate the game of modern football.

The Cincinnati Bengals had some ugly years after their founding in 1967, but that shifted when Bengals founder and head coach Paul Brown selected quarterback Ken Anderson from Augustana College in 1970 with the 67th overall pick. Under the mentorship of Paul Brown and the ingenuity of the offensive coordinator Bill Walsh, the foundation for the west coast offense was born with Anderson under center.

Short, high-efficiency throws replaced the need for a strong run game as this new offensive scheme sent defenses scrambling with opposing linemen lacking the lateral quickness to close in on the receivers. Anderson and the Bengals thrived in this new system, making them a juggernaut in the AFC.

Pioneering the roots for the west coast offense, Anderson thrived as one of the league’s best passers during his time in Cincinnati, earning the 1981 MVP, 1981 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 1981 All-Pro and four Pro Bowls. He also led the NFL in completion percentage four separate years. With his iconic chevron mustache, Anderson played 16 years in the league, an immense accomplishment during an era where quarterbacks did not benefit from the same protective calls they do today and it wasn’t uncommon for a nasty hit to end a passer’s career. 

How about that elusive Super Bowl ring that cements players in the HOF? Ken Anderson led the Bengals through the 1981 AFC Championship game dubbed the “Freezer Bowl” with temperatures at a staggering -9 F and 35-mph winds contributing to a biting -59 F wind chill. The Bengals quarterback propelled his team through adverse conditions, setting them up for a date with the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI. 

The Niners unit was playing under head coach Bill Walsh, who was previously the heir apparent to Paul Brown in Cincinnati before the former Bengals head coach decided to push Walsh out of Cincinnati when he retired in 1975.

While the exact reason is unknown for this departure (although many speculate Brown was resentful that Walsh might surpass him in success and popularity), the feelings between Walsh and Cincinnati grew bitter, particularly when it came out that Paul Brown reportedly said “Bill Walsh will never be a head coach” as he tried to sabotage Walsh’s coaching interviews in phone calls with other NFL owners.

With emotions running high in Super Bowl XVI, Anderson and the Bengals played admirably, coming back from a 20-0 deficit at halftime to trailing by six points with time running out late in the game. The Niners’ defense held on a legendary goal line stand from the five-yard line, and the Bengals couldn’t punch the ball in. The victory began the stoutest sports dynasty in the 1980s, with Bill Walsh coaching his team to two more Super Bowl victories before the decade ended.

Anderson played the remainder of his career resolutely, but the team around him failed to make another Super Bowl appearance until three years after his retirement. His high-efficiency throws and quick pass style helped the Bengals reach immense success during his tenure, and while his statistics might appear pedestrian in today’s NFL, his numbers are remarkable for an NFL that was run-heavy and let quarterbacks take career-ending hits.

While there have been numerous elite talents in Cincinnati, the lack of a Super Bowl championship by the city and the persistent image of a good team that can never quite get it done almost entirely decimates any Bengals legend’s hopes of getting inducted. Bengals great Anthony Muñoz was inducted as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, but he is widely regarded as the greatest left tackle of all time. Other Cincinnati greats such as Willie Anderson have frequently made the initial nomination process, but are always snubbed when it comes to final selections since they lack the Super Bowl ring. It was not until 2023 that a second Bengals player was inducted, with Ken Riley gaining the recognition three years after his death.

Anderson does not have the ring. No one in Cincinnati does. He does not rest in the top 10 for passing yards or touchdowns, but no one from his era does. However, he did help to pioneer one of the greatest offensive schemes in football history, leading his team to victory in the most adverse weather conditions professional football has ever been played in. While he fell to his former offensive coordinator, the development of the NFL from a run-heavy to a pass-first league would never have happened if it were not for Anderson first successfully executing Walsh’s system.

Coaches can also reach HOF honors, and Anderson served as the quarterbacks coach and mentor for future first-ballot Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger, who does reside within the top 10 in most quarterback categories. Anderson also won the 1975 Walter Payton Man of the Year award and founded the Ken Anderson Alliance to provide support to adults with disabilities. Come on, just let the man in, already! Had Paul Brown’s ego never gotten in the way of the hiring process for the next head coach, Walsh would have stayed in Cincinnati and Anderson would have gotten that ring. The son shouldn’t pay for the sins of the father.