Cincinnati Bengals: 15 greatest wide receivers of all-time
By John Buhler
player. 56. . WR. (1985-91). Eddie Brown. 7
- Pro Bowl (1988)
- 1985 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
- 363 career receptions
- 6,134 career receiving yards
- 41 career touchdown receptions
Eddie Brown might be overlooked a bit in terms of the greatest wide receivers in Bengals history. He’s a former Pro Bowler and an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, yet he comes in seventh on this all-time list. It’s a testament to how strong the Bengals have historically at the position, as well as the great seven-year career Brown put together in Bengals uniform.
Brown was a first-round selection in the 1985 NFL Draft out of Miami. He went ahead of the greatest receiver in football history in Jerry Rice. Perhaps even more impressive is that Brown won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1985 with 53 catches for 942 yards and eight touchdowns. That type of production would become customary for Brown during his NFL career.
He backed up his stellar rookie campaign with a 58-catch, 964-yard, four-touchdown 1986 NFL season. While his numbers dropped off a bit to 44 catches for 608 yards and three touchdowns in 1987, Brown had his best year in 1988.
Brown set a franchise record with 1,273 receiving yards on 53 catches for nine touchdowns. His 24.0 yards per reception was both ridiculous and a career high. Brown made his lone trip to the Pro Bowl that season, as the Bengals won the AFC for the second time in seven years. However, they again ran into the buzz saw that was the Joe Walsh San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
Brown would continue to be a highly productive player in his final three years in the league from 1989 to 1991. He at least 44 catches for 706 yards and two touchdowns during the latter part of his Bengals career. Simply put, Brown was on the short list of elite Bengals receivers by the time he retired in 1991.
Overall, Brown had 363 career receptions for 6,134 yards and 41 career touchdown grabs. To think that he did all of that in just seven seasons and only had one year over 1,000 yards receiving is incredible. Other Bengals greats have since surpassed him, but Brown has his spot in the top-10 in Cincinnati wideouts firmly secured.