'One of the greatest players ever to do it': Ken Riley set for posthumous Hall of Fame enshrinement

A bittersweet moment awaits the family of Ken Riley on Aug. 5 when he is enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ken Riley II is thrilled his dad, who starred for the Cincinnati Bengals throughout his 15-year career, finally receives the honor. He wishes Riley, who died three years ago, would be here to experience it.

“I think he’ll definitely be proud,” Riley II said, imagining his dad's reaction. “With all the sense of accomplishment, he probably wouldn’t admit it. This will be the highest honor and to reach that ... and be recognized as one of the greatest players ever to do it."

Riley II looks forward to representing his father and embraces the family atmosphere given by other members of the 2023 class and the Hall of Fame community. He knows his dad, Mr. Bengal, is smiling down on him over this honor.

"As humble as he would be, he probably would’ve thanked everybody because it is a team game with all the support that he had," Riley II said. "He would feel that he didn’t get there by himself.“

At long last: Cincinnati Bengals legend Ken Riley is named an NFL Hall of Famer

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This year’s class is filled with defensive players, including cornerbacks Darelle Revis and Ronde Barber.

"He was one of those guys that I think we all can say he should have made the Hall of Fame many, many years ago," Barber told bengals.com when the class was announced earlier this year. "His numbers speak for themselves. You don't get 65 interceptions very easily. He was what the embodiment of the corner in that era was and it's nice for his family to see him get his space."

Also, Riley joins former Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas in representing Ohio's two NFL franchises.

“To have the display of both Joe Thomas and my dad’s jerseys and to be the second Bengal, it’s a huge honor, and it’s humbling,” Riley II said.

Ken 'The Rattler' Riley was quite a star at Florida A&M

If there is a time to bring Florida A&M's Marching 100 to Canton, this will be it.

Riley joins "Bullet" Bob Hayes as the only Florida A&M Rattlers inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He also is the 32nd player to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Riley did it all at FAMU after a high school career so good he was one of just 33 players named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team. The Bartow, Florida native was a triple threat with his success on the field and in the classroom — playing quarterback and cornerback for the Rattlers and being a Rhodes Scholar candidate.

“Ken Riley went about his life with dignity and humility. His results alone tell the story. He has not played in four decades, but he’s still the fifth all-time leader in interceptions in the NFL,” FAMU President Larry Robinson said in a statement on FAMU's website. “This honor is long overdue but so well deserved.”

After playing football, Riley became a coach and returned to his alma mater to become a head coach for seven seasons (1986-93). He finished with a 48-39-2 record, earning two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference titles, and is a two-time MEAC Coach of the Year honors.

He became FAMU’s athletic director for seven more years (1994-2003) before retiring and returning to Bartow.

“Your historic career is one that we know all too well on the highest of seven hills and with the Cincinnati Bengals, and it’s great that your peers are finally recognizing you as one of the all-time greats,” current FAMU head coach Willie Simmons wrote on Twitter.

Mr. Bengal also Mr. Consistency in interceptions

Riley is the first Cincinnati Bengal inducted into the Hall since Anthony Muñoz 25 years ago. Muñoz, who played with Riley for four seasons, is excited to have another fellow Bengal in the Hall of Fame.

“I played with some great teammates,” Muñoz told the Repository. “Hopefully, now that Kenny Riley is in and you know we expanded the three seniors, hopefully, that would open the door for more guys.”

The late Paul Brown drafted Riley and was the head coach when his career began. Drafted in the sixth round, Riley started contributing as a cornerback and return specialist and intercepted four passes as a rookie.

Riley intercepted at least one pass in all 15 seasons, including picking off at least four passes in nine different years. His career-high was nine in 1976 (a team record for 30 years), and he recorded eight in his final season (1983). He finished his career with 65 interceptions, tied for fifth most in NFL history. He twice intercepted a Bengals-record three passes in a game.

"Ken was a top cover corner," Bengals owner Mike Brown, Paul's son, told bengals.com when the 2023 class was announced. "He could play the ball at the point of reception so well that he became one of the top interceptors of all time. And he would tackle. Only 185 pounds, he hit hard. Receivers knew they would pay a price if they caught a ball in front of him. Most of all, Ken was a smart player. He didn't miss assignments. Ever. He was a wonderful person. He looked out for others. Everyone with all levels of the team respected him. He was a man that could be counted on."

Riley returned five interceptions for touchdowns and made 18 fumble recoveries during his career. According to the Bengals, he is among the 26 cornerbacks to play 200 NFL regular-season games. He was their defensive captain from 1976-83.

He earned All-Pro honors in 1983 and was All-AFC in three other seasons.

“I know we have a lot of fans in Cincinnati that just can’t wait to support him,” Muñoz said. “We’re just excited to have another Bengal in there. We look forward to seeing all the fans in August.”

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ken Riley is second Bengal inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame