Willie Anderson, Isaac Curtis inducted into Bengals Ring of Honor class of 2022

Willie Anderson and Isaac Curtis are the newest members of the Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor.

Anderson and Curtis have been voted in by season ticket holders out of a ballot of 15 former Bengals and now join Ken Anderson, Paul Brown, Anthony Munoz, and Ken Riley, who were inaugural Ring of Honor members inducted last year.

The induction ceremony will take place at halftime of the Bengals’ Week 4 Thursday night matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Anderson made four Pro Bowls and was a three-time All-Pro during his 12 years for the Bengals from 1996-2007. Arguably the greatest right tackle in the modern era of football, Anderson embodied consistent excellence and he shut out any and all competition he faced. It’s now common knowledge amongst Bengals fans that Anderson played 15 games against nine of the top 11 all-time sack leaders, and Bruce Smith was the only one to register a sack against him. Some even question the legitimacy of that lone blemish on Anderson’s resume.

Curtis also made four Pro Bowls during his Bengals career, which also lasted 12 years from 1973-1984. His rookie season stands out to this day in regards to how the game evolved. Curtis’ speed was such a problem for opposing defenses that most teams resorted to grabbing and pushing him down field; things that are unheard of in today’s pass happy league. The NFL instituted a rule changes the following season that prohibited defenses from excessive contact, and it was known as the “Isaac Curtis” rule. The original No. 85 averaged 17.1 yards per reception, a Bengals record, and is still top-four in yards (7,101) and touchdowns (53) in the franchise record books.

“These are two of our finest all-time players,” Bengals owner Mike Brown said of the announcement. “Willie was as good a right offensive tackle as you could draw up. He had it all—strength, movement and attitude. Isaac had incredible speed along with great hands. This is evidence for how our fans felt about Isaac during his career. They knew he was special. The Bengals are fortunate to have both of these outstanding players in the Ring of Honor.”

Joining the exclusive second class of inductees could bode well for Anderson, as he was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past year. Such progress will keep him in the conversation, and his induction to his former team’s Hall of Fame equivalent will further his case.

As for Curtis, he kickstarted the legacy of the franchise’s illustrious history at wide receiver. His play and production stand the test of time even after the likes of Cris Collinsworth, Carl Pickens, Chad Johnson, and A.J. Green have come through Cincinnati. This honor signifies his place in that history.