The Bengals have not had much luck getting players into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the past, with only two members of the team in it. They still have a couple of players with potential to make it in and have gotten close in the past with Willie Anderson and Ken Anderson.
Now, the question becomes what they can do to increase the chances of their current players. In a new article, ESPN discussed the potential Hall of Fame players on each team, and they only mention one Bengal on the right path.
Keep it up: WR Ja’Marr Chase
Chase has been every bit as good as Justin Jefferson, his former teammate at LSU. But as Chase entered the NFL 12 months after Jefferson, his résumé is one year shorter. The 2021 No. 5 pick has started his career with five straight Pro Bowls and an Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and he has been a first-team All-Pro each of the past two seasons. He’s still only 26, and it would be no surprise if Chase had already clinched his spot in Canton before turning 30.
Work to do: QB Joe Burrow, WR Tee Higgins, DT Dexter Lawrence II
Burrow also has a Hall of Fame case based on his level of play, but injuries are the concern here. He has now missed significant portions of three different seasons (2020, 2023 and 2025), a significant amount for a player who has been in the league for only six years. The Bengals also haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, and while that shouldn’t impact Burrow given that he has already made it to a Super Bowl, more playoff success wouldn’t hurt.
While the Bengals are currently projected to have only one Hall of Famer at their current pace, if they can add more team success with a Super Bowl win or two, that should raise the profile of everyone on the team. The work to do seems a bit pessimistic, as Burrow and Lawrence have looked like some of the best players at their positions when healthy. A solid year could easily have both back on the Hall of Fame trajectory, and the Bengals could be looking at doubling their Hall of Fame members.
