Class of 2023: Ken Riley — From college quarterback to shutdown NFL cornerback

Enshrinement Published on : 8/5/2023


By Barry Wilner 
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 

When KEN RILEY headed to the NFL from Florida A&M, he was a quarterback. Sadly and unfortunately, Black quarterbacks rarely got the opportunity to play the position in the pros in 1969.

Legendary coach Paul Brown switched Riley to cornerback, recognizing his athletic skills, football knowhow and strength could make him a defensive star. Brown was correct; all Riley did was play 15 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals as a shutdown DB with a feel for the ball and a willingness to be physical on the corner.

Now, as a senior candidate, the three-time All-Pro nicknamed “Rattler” who passed away in 2020 has been enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Years ago, when I was talking to my father, I told him that I wouldn’t visit Canton until he was enshrined,” said his son, Ken II. “And now I’m here—and I believe that he’s smiling down on us today.”
 

Riley proved himself a ballhawk with 65 interceptions, including four as a rookie and a career-best nine in 1976, with three in a victory over the Jets. The Bengals hardly were a dominant team for much of his career, but Riley was a dominant performer. He also had five pick-6s as a Bengal, recovered 18 fumbles and, in 1981 was a key to Cincinnati’s first AFC Championship.

"He had a high football IQ. I think that was coming from the offensive side being a quarterback," said Steelers Hall of Famer Mel Blount, a contemporary of Riley’s at cornerback. "I think he kind of knew what formations were going to bring you. I think he knew the timing of it. I think he knew how the placement of the ball mattered because he was a quarterback on the other side of the ball. He had a higher IQ than most of us in the game."

Riley is tied with fellow Gold Jacket Charles Woodson for fifth on the NFL’s career interceptions list; only Hall of Famer Rod Woodson intercepted more passes from the cornerback position. He was so consistent that in his final season of 1983, Riley had eight picks and ran back two of them for scores. Altogether, he led the Bengals in interceptions seven times and led the AFC three times.

“My dad was a true professional from start to finish,” his son said to the crowd at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. “As a kid, I didn’t know what I was watching when he was training … But as a man, I understand that I was seeing the dedication and commitment and hard work that it takes to be great.

“The good ones make it look easy. Most people think, `They’re just born with talent,’ which is true. But what they don’t see is the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making that talent shine.”

Not only was he a star player in the pros, but Riley was a big success as a college coach and administrator. He was Florida A&M’s head  coach from 1986-1993, and its athletic director from 1994-2003 –despite overtures from other, bigger schools to join them.

“Thanks go to the fans, to my dad’s teammates, and to everyone who loves the game the way that he did,” Ken Riley II said.

“It’s been a long time coming, dad — but you made it.”

 

More on the Enshrinement of each class member

Class members are listed in order of their Enshrinement speeches:  

2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game



 
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