CINCINNATI — On a cold Monday night, hundreds of fans lined the streets outside of Paul Brown Stadium cheering as the Cincinnati Bengals returned from Los Angeles. The team didn’t bring home the city’s first Lombardi Trophy, but fans said they did reignite a sense of hope and optimism for a franchise that waited more than 30 years to make it to the big game.

What You Need To Know

  • The Bengals returned to Cincinnati Monday after losing to the Rams 23-20 in Super Bowl LVI

  • Dozens of fans lined the streets to greet them

  • Players and coaches showed their appreciation by greeting and saluting fans

  • Fans are optimistic for the 2022 season

Just after 7 p.m., team buses made their way over the Ohio River back to the stadium where fans started waiting three hours prior to offer the team a warm welcome.

Fans set up live music, started chanted and even dancing. The environment was a stark contrast from the silence and disappointment downtown Cincinnati saw the previous night.

“I’ll be honest, everybody was bawling it up,” Kit Bermas, a young fan who came to see the team with his family, said of the scene last night. “It was very disappointing. It made my heart break a little, but they got that far.”

That’s why fans said they were there was plenty of reason to celebrate. After a 4-11 season the previous year, this season marked the first AFC North title in five years, the first playoff win in 31 years, and their first Super Bowl appearance since 1989.

“So if they could be the AFC Champions, they can make it to the super bowl they can do it again next year,” Bermas said. 

For that reason, fans held up signs reading “congratulations on a great season” and “you have nothing to be sorry for.” 

“Because I love the team, I mean look at ‘em. Look where they came from this is our decade right here we’re getting ready to be on top,” said fan Johnny Robinson.

Players and coaches appeared to appreciate the support. When they got off the buses, many gave salutes to fans and walked out to greet them.

 

Head Coach Zac Taylor walks out to greet fans

Coach Zac Taylor was one of the first to walk out to the fence line and take a selfie with a young fan.

Next year, the Bengals plan to compete with a very similar roster, and while there are key spots on the offense and defensive lines in need of a rebuild, fans believe the young team has a promising future ahead of it.

“Y’all amazing for what you did this year and I’m looking forward to next year,” fan Ricky Lozada said before closing with a “Who DEY!”

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