Bengals announce 2023 Ring of Honor inductees

The Bengals announced that "two of the best to ever wear stripes" will be inducted into their Ring of Honor during the 2023 season.

Cincinnati revealed the two players joining its Ring of Honor are WR Chad Johnson and QB Boomer Esiason. They will be recognized with a special induction ceremony at halftime of the team's Week 3 matchup vs. the Rams.

"Boomer and Chad were both exceptional players," president Mike Brown said. "If you look at the statistics, Boomer has a long list of quarterback firsts here. And Chad was a superb athlete who was probably the quickest receiver we have had here. They could have moments when they just carried the team by themselves. Both players are very deserving of this honor."

Johnson is the Bengals' all-time leader in receptions (751), receiving yards (10,783) and receiving touchdowns (66). The six-time Pro Bowler played in Cincinnati for 10 seasons from 2001-10.

"It means everything," Johnson said. "To be shown appreciation for all the years of hard work is awesome. It's a great honor and I'm very appreciative. I'm getting my flowers now while I can smell them. To me, this honor means much more than getting a gold jacket, honestly. This is home. The fans understand the good times and the bad times, the ups and downs, and they accepted me as my true authentic self. This is a welcome home – you will always be a part of us – and this means a lot to me. A lot."

Esiason finished his career with the third-most passing yards (27,149) and passing touchdowns (187) in franchise history. The four-time Pro Bowler was named the 1988 NFL MVP and the 1995 NFL Man of the Year.

"I will always remember I got this because of the season ticket holders," Esiason said. "They're the ones who have the memories. They're the ones who spend the money to support the team. They're the ones who know who their favorite players are and who had the biggest impact when they were there. That's not to be taken lightly or ever taken for granted."