Bengals fans expect Super Bowl run in 2026
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Fans are ready to take “Who Dey” all the way. Photos: Courtesy of Bengal Jim
The mood around Cincinnati is different this preseason: For many fans, it's Super Bowl or bust.
Why it matters: After years of frustration, particularly the "dark ages" of the 1990s, Bengals fans aren't just hoping for a playoff run this year. They expect one.
What they're saying: "Everybody feels the same," says superfan Jim Foster.
- "Bengal Jim" is known for his annual tailgate that has grown from a few friends around a grill in 1993 to a massive game-day festival.
- "If this team stays healthy this year, this could be a very special year for the Cincinnati Bengals."
The big picture: Foster sees a sense of urgency around a team with a core of young, elite talent.
- Quarterback Joe Burrow has reinforced that feeling, making clear he's committed to Cincinnati for the long haul while pushing the organization to capitalize on its competitive window.
- "Instead of waiting till next year, every year saying, 'maybe next year, maybe next year,'" Foster says, "he's putting some urgency on everybody in that organization."
State of play(offs): Cincinnati got a taste of what a deep postseason run can mean, ending a three-decade playoff victory drought by reaching the Super Bowl in 2022 and the AFC Championship Game in 2023.
- Now fans want the final step.
- "Winning a Super Bowl for this city and this fan base would be …" Foster says, trailing off. "You can't even imagine how fun it would be in this city."
- And the excitement is already here, he says — unusually early for a preseason.