Cincinnati Bengals All-Time Passing Leaders – No. 8: David Klingler (3,880)
Bengals Quarterback from 1992-1995
After an electric career at Houston, the Bengals saw enough in David Klingler to make him the No. 6 overall pick in the 1992 NFL Draft. Like some of the other first-round quarterbacks who have appeared on this list, Klingler did not pan out and is arguably one of the Bengals’ biggest draft busts.
Klingler was the Bengals’ starter in his second and third seasons but failed to lock down the job. Once a shoulder injury prevented him from heaving the ball down the field, Klingler was pretty much destined to be a backup for the rest of his career.
He lost the starting job to Jeff Blake in 1995 and tried to make his career work as a backup. He managed to stay in the league until 1997, which he spent with the Raiders but that was it for him.
Klinger’s four years with the Bengals saw him throw for 3,880 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions through 30 games. In 24 starts, Klingler won just four games with three of those coming in the 1993 season. He went 0-7 as a starter in 1994, which was the final nail in his coffin as far as being a starter went.