Back to the Cincinnati Bengals Newsfeed

Jon Kitna: Drop in 2002 motivated Chad Ochocinco, turned Bengals into team 'that mattered'

In a video shared Thursday on Twitter, former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna said he believes a dropped pass in a 2002 loss incentivized Chad Johnson - aka Ochocinco - to focus on his conditioning, become an elite NFL receiver and turn the Bengals from one of few NFL teams that "nobody pays attention to" into a team "that mattered."

Jon Kitna sets up to pass during a morning workout at the Bengals' training camp in Georgetown, Ky. (Enquirer file)

Kitna indicated that the drop happened in a 28-21 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 6, 2002. Johnson had six catches for 72 yards without a touchdown in the game - not the 180 yards with two touchdowns Kitna thought the receiver may have had.