Ken Riley
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Jerome Riley is a former professional American Football
defensive back
who played his entire career for the Cincinnati Bengals
, in the American Football League
in 1969 and in the NFL from 1970 through 1983. Riley recorded 65 interceptions in his career, which was the fourth most in Pro Football history at the time of his retirement behind three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
; Dick Lane, Emlen Tunnell
and Paul Krause. But despite his accomplishments, Riley was never an exceptionally popular or well known player. In his 15 seasons, Riley was never once selected to play in the AFL All-Star Game
or the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
, and to this date has not been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
.
Before his professional career, Riley played quarterback
for Florida A&M University
. In addition to being a skilled athlete, Riley also excelled academically. He earned his team's scholastic award and a Rhodes Scholar Candidacy. In 1977, Riley was enshrined in Florida A&M's Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from college, Riley was selected by the Bengals in the 6th round of the 1969 Common Draft
.
When Riley reported to training camp, Cincinnati head coach Paul Brown
decided to convert Riley to the cornerback position. Brown's decision turned out to be a very good one. Riley made an immediate impact for the Bengals as a defensive back, recording 4 interceptions and 66 return yards. He also recovered 2 fumbles, added another 334 yards on 14 kickoff returns, and even caught 2 passes for 15 yards on offense.
For the rest of his career, Riley established himself as one of the top defensive backs in Pro Football, recording 3 or more interceptions in all but 3 of his 15 seasons. His best season was in 1976 when he recorded 9 interceptions, 141 return yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 fumble recoveries. His 9 interceptions set a franchise record for most interceptions in one season, and would remain the team record for 30 years until it was broken by Deltha O'Neal
in 2005. He also set a record that year by intercepting 3 passes in the final game of the season; a 42-3 win over New York Jets
. Riley intercepted Richard Todd
once and future hall of fame quarterback Joe Namath
twice. It was Namath's final game as a New York Jet.
Since then several Bengals players have tied the record (including Riley, who did it again in a 1982 game, picking off 3 passes from Oakland Raiders
quarterback Jim Plunkett
). but nobody has broken it. But despite his success in the 1976 season, Riley was not selected to play in the pro bowl. Meanwhile, his defensive back teammate Lemar Parrish
, who recorded just 2 interceptions and missed half the season with injuries, was a pro bowl selection.
Riley continued to be an impact player for Cincinnati throughout the rest of his career. In 1981 he recorded 5 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery, assisting his team to their first ever Super Bowl
appearance against the San Francisco 49ers
in Super Bowl XVI
. In his final NFL season (1983), the 36-year old Riley recorded 8 interceptions, 89 return yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 fumble recoveries.
In his 15 Pro Football seasons, Riley recorded a total of 65 interceptions, 596 return yards, 5 touchdowns, 18 fumble recoveries, 96 fumble return yards, 334 kickoff return yards, and 15 receiving yards. His interceptions, interception return yards, and interceptions returned for touchdowns are all Bengals records.
After his Pro Football playing career ended, Riley spent two years as an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers
. Then in 1986, he took over as the head coach of his alma mater
, Florida A&M. Riley coached Florida A&M from 1986–1993, compiling a 48-39-2 record, with two Mid-Eastern Athletic conference titles and 2 MEAC coach of the year awards. Riley then served as Florida A&M's athletic director from 1994-2003. He is now retired and living in his hometown of Bartow, Florida
.
Commenting about not yet being enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Riley said "I think my numbers are deserving of the Hall of Fame. I've always been a modest and low-key type guy. I've always thought your work would speak for you. It's like it's working against me now because the older you get and the longer you stay out of it, people forget who you are."(1)
Riley is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
In 2007 he was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team which selected the Top 33 players in the 100 year history of high school football in the state of Florida's history.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who played his entire career for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
in 1969 and in the NFL from 1970 through 1983. Riley recorded 65 interceptions in his career, which was the fourth most in Pro Football history at the time of his retirement behind three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
; Dick Lane, Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Lewis Tunnell was an American football player. He was the first African American to play for the New York Giants, and was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He played in the National Football League for the Giants and Green Bay Packers...
and Paul Krause. But despite his accomplishments, Riley was never an exceptionally popular or well known player. In his 15 seasons, Riley was never once selected to play in the AFL All-Star Game
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
or the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, and to this date has not been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
.
Before his professional career, Riley played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
. In addition to being a skilled athlete, Riley also excelled academically. He earned his team's scholastic award and a Rhodes Scholar Candidacy. In 1977, Riley was enshrined in Florida A&M's Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from college, Riley was selected by the Bengals in the 6th round of the 1969 Common Draft
Common Draft
The Common Draft was the name given to the selection of college football players in a combined draft from 1967 to 1969 by the American Football League and the National Football League . This took place after the AFL-NFL merger agreement in 1966....
.
When Riley reported to training camp, Cincinnati head coach Paul Brown
Paul Brown
Paul Eugene Brown was a coach in American football and a major figure in the development of the National Football League...
decided to convert Riley to the cornerback position. Brown's decision turned out to be a very good one. Riley made an immediate impact for the Bengals as a defensive back, recording 4 interceptions and 66 return yards. He also recovered 2 fumbles, added another 334 yards on 14 kickoff returns, and even caught 2 passes for 15 yards on offense.
For the rest of his career, Riley established himself as one of the top defensive backs in Pro Football, recording 3 or more interceptions in all but 3 of his 15 seasons. His best season was in 1976 when he recorded 9 interceptions, 141 return yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 fumble recoveries. His 9 interceptions set a franchise record for most interceptions in one season, and would remain the team record for 30 years until it was broken by Deltha O'Neal
Deltha O'Neal
Deltha Lee O'Neal, III is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round as the 15th pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, after playing college football at California.A two-time Pro Bowl selection, O'Neal has also been a member...
in 2005. He also set a record that year by intercepting 3 passes in the final game of the season; a 42-3 win over New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Riley intercepted Richard Todd
Richard Todd
Richard Todd OBE was an Irish-born British stage and film actor and soldier.-Early life:Richard Todd was born as Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Andrew William Palethorpe Todd, was an Irish physician and an international Irish rugby player who gained three caps for...
once and future hall of fame quarterback Joe Namath
Joe Namath
Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...
twice. It was Namath's final game as a New York Jet.
Since then several Bengals players have tied the record (including Riley, who did it again in a 1982 game, picking off 3 passes from Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
quarterback Jim Plunkett
Jim Plunkett
James William "Jim" Plunkett is a former American football quarterback who played college football for Stanford University, where he won the Heisman Trophy, and professionally for three National Football League teams: the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. ...
). but nobody has broken it. But despite his success in the 1976 season, Riley was not selected to play in the pro bowl. Meanwhile, his defensive back teammate Lemar Parrish
Lemar Parrish
Lemar R. Parrish is a former professional American football player who played defensive back in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals , Washington Redskins , and the Buffalo Bills ....
, who recorded just 2 interceptions and missed half the season with injuries, was a pro bowl selection.
Riley continued to be an impact player for Cincinnati throughout the rest of his career. In 1981 he recorded 5 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery, assisting his team to their first ever Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
appearance against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI was an American football game played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan to decide the National Football League champion following the 1981 regular season. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held at a cold-weather city...
. In his final NFL season (1983), the 36-year old Riley recorded 8 interceptions, 89 return yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 fumble recoveries.
In his 15 Pro Football seasons, Riley recorded a total of 65 interceptions, 596 return yards, 5 touchdowns, 18 fumble recoveries, 96 fumble return yards, 334 kickoff return yards, and 15 receiving yards. His interceptions, interception return yards, and interceptions returned for touchdowns are all Bengals records.
After his Pro Football playing career ended, Riley spent two years as an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. Then in 1986, he took over as the head coach of his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Florida A&M. Riley coached Florida A&M from 1986–1993, compiling a 48-39-2 record, with two Mid-Eastern Athletic conference titles and 2 MEAC coach of the year awards. Riley then served as Florida A&M's athletic director from 1994-2003. He is now retired and living in his hometown of Bartow, Florida
Bartow, Florida
Bartow is the county seat of Polk County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1851 as Fort Blount, the city was renamed in honor of Francis S. Bartow the first brigade commander to die in combat during the American Civil War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2000 Census, the city had a...
.
Commenting about not yet being enshrined in the Hall of Fame, Riley said "I think my numbers are deserving of the Hall of Fame. I've always been a modest and low-key type guy. I've always thought your work would speak for you. It's like it's working against me now because the older you get and the longer you stay out of it, people forget who you are."(1)
Riley is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
In 2007 he was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team which selected the Top 33 players in the 100 year history of high school football in the state of Florida's history.
Sources
- Ludwig, Chick. Cincinnati Bengals, The Legends. Willmington, OH: Orange Frazer P, 2004. ISBN 1-882203-38-0 page 42.(1)
- Bengals all time interception leaders http://www.bengals.com/team/history/interceptions_alltime.asp
- Ken Riley's stats http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=RILEYKEN01