There has been an impressive number of very good players playing the quarterback position over the years for the Cincinnati Bengals. From Ken Anderson to Boomer Esiason to Jon Kitna to Carson Palmer, the Bengals have often had one of the best passing games in the league. Here’s a look at nine interesting facts about some of the players who have played quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.
– The first touchdown pass Carson Palmer threw in his NFL career was a 6-yard pass in a 31-24 loss to the New York Jets in 2004. It happened in the third quarter and was thrown to receiver Kenny Watson. This was the only touchdown pass he threw to Watson.
– While with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jeff Blake appeared in his only Pro Bowl in 1995. He set the Pro Bowl record for longest touchdown pass by throwing a 92-yard pass to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Yancey Thigpen.
– Ken Anderson was the quarterback for the Bengals in a 33-21 win over the Buffalo Bills in 1975. This would be Cincinnati’s first win on Monday Night Football. The team would also set records for passing yards in a game (447) and total offensive yards (553).
– No Bengals quarterback has thrown more touchdown passes in a season than Carson Palmer, who threw 32 in 2005.
– In 1988, Boomer Esiason led the entire NFL in yards per pass attempt (9.2) as well as quarterback rating (97.4).
– Longtime Bengals backup quarterback Turk Schonert played five seasons with the team from 1981 to 1985, then spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons in 1986, before returning and spending the last three seasons of his NFL career with the Bengals from 1987 to 1989.
– The most touchdown passes Boomer Esiason had in a game was five. He did this twice, both times as the quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals. The first time was in a 52-21 win over the New York Jets in 1986 and the second time was in a 56-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1989 season.
– In 1969, the Bengals selected quarterback Greg Cook, who had played at the college level at the University of Cincinnati with the fifth overall pick in the draft. He was the team’s starting quarterback during his rookie season, but then a rotator cuff injury forced him to retire after the season, ending his professional career with just one season played.