What Year Did the Bengals Go to the Super Bowl?

By Sarah Miller · June 17, 2045

The Cincinnati Bengals have reached the Super Bowl three times in their franchise history: in the 1981, 1988, and 2021 seasons. They lost Super Bowl XVI, XXIII, and won their most recent appearance in Super Bowl LVI.

When Did the Bengals Go to the Super Bowl?

The Cincinnati Bengals have made it to the Super Bowl in three different seasons, representing significant milestones in the team's history. Their appearances came after successful playoff runs during the 1981, 1988, and 2021 NFL seasons, culminating in Super Bowls XVI, XXIII, and LVI respectively.

Super Bowl Appearances by Year

Super Bowl XVI (1981 season): Played on January 24, 1982, against the San Francisco 49ers.
Super Bowl XXIII (1988 season): Played on January 22, 1989, against the same 49ers team.
Super Bowl LVI (2021 season): Played on February 13, 2022, against the Los Angeles Rams.

Each of these appearances marked a peak in the team’s performance during their respective eras, led by star quarterbacks Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, and Joe Burrow.

Bengals' Super Bowl Results and Key Details

The Bengals’ journey to the Super Bowl reflects both triumphs and heartbreaks. While they remain one of the few franchises with multiple Super Bowl losses without a win for decades, their 2021 run ended that drought in dramatic fashion.

Season	Super Bowl	Date	Opponent	Result	Score	MVP
1981	XVI	January 24, 1982	San Francisco 49ers	Loss	14–26	Joe Montana
1988	XXIII	January 22, 1989	San Francisco 49ers	Loss	16–20	Joe Montana
2021	LVI	February 13, 2022	Los Angeles Rams	Win	23–27	Cooper Kupp

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows the Bengals’ long road to a championship victory. Two of their three appearances were against the 49ers, both narrow losses. Their 2022 win over the Rams marked their first Super Bowl victory after a 33-year gap since their last appearance.

Key Players in Bengals Super Bowl Runs

Each Super Bowl appearance featured standout leadership and talent from key players who defined those eras.

1981 Season – Ken Anderson Era

Ken Anderson: Pro Bowl QB, 1981 NFL MVP
Art Monk: Emerging wide receiver
Ray Horton: Defensive leader

1988 Season – Boomer Esiason Leadership

Boomer Esiason: 1988 NFL MVP, orchestrated the offense
Ickey Woods: Rookie sensation with "Ickey Shuffle"
Tim Krumrie: Dominant nose tackle

2021 Season – Joe Burrow's Breakout

Joe Burrow: Comeback Player of the Year after injury
Ja'Marr Chase: Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate
Trey Hill: Solid offensive line anchor
Logan Wilson: Emerging defensive star

Frequently Asked Questions About the Bengals and the Super Bowl