Ken Riley inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame 3 years after death

Ken Riley has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 3 years after he passed away.

A recognition long overdue…

This is the story of our legendary defensive back Ken Riley and his journey to the @ProFootballHOF.

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 1, 2023

The former cornerback spent the entirety of his NFL career at Cincinnati Bengals.

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He was drafted by Cincinnati back in 1969 after an impressive college career as dual-threat quarterback, but soon changed his position with the advice of his then coach Paul Brown.

“That’s not an easy thing to accept,” said former Bengals teammate Dave Lapham. “I know he felt like he could have played quarterback in the National Football League. But he accepted the move to the corner and more than accepted it, he excelled at it.”

Riley, however, excelled at the position with 4 interceptions in his rookie year earned first-team All-Pro honors at the age of 36, when he retired.

“He worked hard just to master his craft, worked hard to accomplish what he was able to accomplish,” former Bengals receiver Isaac Curtis said. “To come in as a quarterback and be able to play 15 years in the NFL at cornerback, having never been a cornerback before, it just shows you the kind of work ethic and kind of athlete that he was.”