Bengals’ 2001 NFL Draft Was The Greatest In Team History

Selecting four Pro Bowl players in the 2001 Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals set in motion a culture change that still resonates today.

The 2001 NFL draft was a crowning achievement in Cincinnati Bengals history. A noon Saturday start, the draft featured 31 NFL teams as the Texans wouldn’t enter the league until the following season. In a packed Madison Square Garden, with Chris Berman on the mic, the intrigue was already building. The San Diego Chargers traded the first overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons for the rights to QB Michael Vick. The Chargers came away with two Hall of Famers in LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees. Amongst all the hype, though, the Bengals quietly built a foundation.…