Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Ken Riley
Enshrinement
Published on : 7/31/2023
By Evan Rogers
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Sixth in a series of features on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023)
On one thing all of the teammates and peers who encountered KEN RILEY could agree: He was atypically quiet – especially for a cornerback.
According to Riley, he preferred to play that way.
"I don't make a lot of noise or do anything flashy because that's just not the kind of person I am,” he said in an interview during his playing days. “I thought doing it on the field was enough.”
Growing up in central Florida, Riley attended Union Academy. There he starred at quarterback for the Tigers and was most notably recognized for his accuracy and ability to escape the pocket.
Upon graduation, Riley decided to stay in-state and attend Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). There, the dynamic signal-caller became a four-year starter for head coach Alonzo Gaither and led the Rattlers to a trio of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships.
Gaither’s Split-Line T offensive scheme featured multiple running backs and thrived on having a quarterback who could excel not only in the passing game, but also run outside the tackles. With Riley directing the show, Gaither’s patented offense blossomed, and Florida A&M posted a 23-7 record over four years.
FAMU’s star quarterback wasn’t a leader only on the field, but also an example in the classroom. While in college, Riley earned Rhodes Scholar candidacy.
“He was the best teammate; everyone respected him,” former FAMU wide receiver Kent Schoolfield said. “He was a gentleman on and off the field.”
During his final collegiate season in 1969, Riley posted yet another impressive year, completing more than 90 percent of his passes and totaling 1,408 passing yards along with two dozen touchdowns. Later that same year, the Cincinnati Bengals selected the Rattlers’ prized pro prospect in the sixth round of the AFL-NFL Draft.
Instead of capitalizing on his talents as a dual-threat quarterback, the Bengals opted to change Riley’s position.
“(Coach) Paul Brown called me and told me that I needed to train as a defensive back because that’s what they wanted me to play,” Riley said. “They sent a coach down to train me … We would train at Florida State with the guys they had going to the NFL as well.”
Riley was quick to adjust and saw action in all 14 games of his rookie season. The rising defensive star tallied four interceptions his inaugural year, and Riley noted that, despite the adjustments, changing sides of the ball was eye opening.
“On offense, you have a lot of guys who are temperamental and go their separate ways,” he said. “On defense, there is a closeness.”
As Riley’s talents began to headline Cincinnati’s defense, teams across the league took notice and adjusted accordingly. Hall of Fame quarterback TERRY BRADSHAW even joked that he had, “about 90 passes intercepted in my career, and No. 12 (Riley) over there has about 10 of them.”
Some teams opted to limit their passing attempts, others flat out avoided Riley’s half of the field entirely. On days that he saw few passes come his way, Riley’s soft demeanor sharply offset his vigorous approach to each snap.
"On the corners, the day you relax is the day you start getting burned,” he said. “You can't ever relax. You have to go all out every play, even in practice, so that kind of effort becomes automatic."
Riley’s recognition, and lack thereof, is well documented.
Despite ranking fifth all time in NFL history with 65 career interceptions — and leading the AFC in 1976 with nine picks — Riley was never selected to a Pro Bowl. It was not until the last season of his career, when Riley recorded eight interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, that the Bengals’ star cornerback would earn first-team All-Pro honors.
Yet rather than quarrel about the lack of recognition, Riley kept to himself and let his game do all the talking. His Hall of Fame status now can speak for him.
“Ken (Riley is) not a player who goes around blowing his own horn,” Bengals defensive backs coach Charley Winner said. “He really doesn’t do anything to draw attention to himself except to do a helluva job at playing cornerback, and that’s all that's supposed to count.”
Evan Rogers is a student at the University of North Carolina and is an intern this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Sixth in a series of features on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023)
On one thing all of the teammates and peers who encountered KEN RILEY could agree: He was atypically quiet – especially for a cornerback.
According to Riley, he preferred to play that way.
"I don't make a lot of noise or do anything flashy because that's just not the kind of person I am,” he said in an interview during his playing days. “I thought doing it on the field was enough.”
Growing up in central Florida, Riley attended Union Academy. There he starred at quarterback for the Tigers and was most notably recognized for his accuracy and ability to escape the pocket.
Upon graduation, Riley decided to stay in-state and attend Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). There, the dynamic signal-caller became a four-year starter for head coach Alonzo Gaither and led the Rattlers to a trio of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) championships.
Gaither’s Split-Line T offensive scheme featured multiple running backs and thrived on having a quarterback who could excel not only in the passing game, but also run outside the tackles. With Riley directing the show, Gaither’s patented offense blossomed, and Florida A&M posted a 23-7 record over four years.
FAMU’s star quarterback wasn’t a leader only on the field, but also an example in the classroom. While in college, Riley earned Rhodes Scholar candidacy.
“He was the best teammate; everyone respected him,” former FAMU wide receiver Kent Schoolfield said. “He was a gentleman on and off the field.”
During his final collegiate season in 1969, Riley posted yet another impressive year, completing more than 90 percent of his passes and totaling 1,408 passing yards along with two dozen touchdowns. Later that same year, the Cincinnati Bengals selected the Rattlers’ prized pro prospect in the sixth round of the AFL-NFL Draft.
Instead of capitalizing on his talents as a dual-threat quarterback, the Bengals opted to change Riley’s position.
“(Coach) Paul Brown called me and told me that I needed to train as a defensive back because that’s what they wanted me to play,” Riley said. “They sent a coach down to train me … We would train at Florida State with the guys they had going to the NFL as well.”
Riley was quick to adjust and saw action in all 14 games of his rookie season. The rising defensive star tallied four interceptions his inaugural year, and Riley noted that, despite the adjustments, changing sides of the ball was eye opening.
“On offense, you have a lot of guys who are temperamental and go their separate ways,” he said. “On defense, there is a closeness.”
As Riley’s talents began to headline Cincinnati’s defense, teams across the league took notice and adjusted accordingly. Hall of Fame quarterback TERRY BRADSHAW even joked that he had, “about 90 passes intercepted in my career, and No. 12 (Riley) over there has about 10 of them.”
Some teams opted to limit their passing attempts, others flat out avoided Riley’s half of the field entirely. On days that he saw few passes come his way, Riley’s soft demeanor sharply offset his vigorous approach to each snap.
"On the corners, the day you relax is the day you start getting burned,” he said. “You can't ever relax. You have to go all out every play, even in practice, so that kind of effort becomes automatic."
Riley’s recognition, and lack thereof, is well documented.
Despite ranking fifth all time in NFL history with 65 career interceptions — and leading the AFC in 1976 with nine picks — Riley was never selected to a Pro Bowl. It was not until the last season of his career, when Riley recorded eight interceptions and returned two for touchdowns, that the Bengals’ star cornerback would earn first-team All-Pro honors.
Yet rather than quarrel about the lack of recognition, Riley kept to himself and let his game do all the talking. His Hall of Fame status now can speak for him.
“Ken (Riley is) not a player who goes around blowing his own horn,” Bengals defensive backs coach Charley Winner said. “He really doesn’t do anything to draw attention to himself except to do a helluva job at playing cornerback, and that’s all that's supposed to count.”
Evan Rogers is a student at the University of North Carolina and is an intern this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
More of this series
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Rondé Barber
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Don Coryell
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Chuck Howley
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Klecko
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Darrelle Revis
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Ken Riley
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Thomas
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Zach Thomas
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: DeMarcus Ware
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