The Cincinnati Bengals have largely been a disappointment since their trip to the AFC Championship in 2022. After making the Super Bowl in 2021, and the AFC Championship in 2022, the Bengals appeared poised to be one of the AFC’s annual contenders alongside the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
Instead, the team has failed to make the postseason in three consecutive seasons and just had its worst record since the 2020 season. Despite having an elite quarterback and an All-Pro wide receiver, the Bengals have not been able to keep up with the AFC’s elite teams these past three seasons.
And after the latest development before NFL free agency, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith went on one of his signature rants, with the Bengals being the primary target.
Stephen A. Smith Doesn’t Hold Back on Cincinnati Bengals
While on ESPN’s “First Take” show, the crew was discussing the Bengals’ decision not to use the franchise tag on All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. That quickly turned into Stephen A. Smith going on an impassioned rant against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith first discussed the previously mentioned success the team had in 2021 and 2022, but attributed it primarily to Joe Burrow as he said, “They are an inept franchise as far as I’m concerned. Listen, I know that they went to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 2021 and 2022. We all know that was because of Joe Burrow. We all know who this man is and what he represents.”
He then spoke out against the Bengals ownership, front office, and coaching staff. Smith said, “On top of it all, you’re missing the playoffs three straight seasons, and you got ownership, who is as cheap as hell. You’ve got the owner in his 90s, who’s still around, barely talks to anybody. You don’t have a GM running football operations, at least with an official title as a GM. And you have a head coach in Zac Taylor who just forgets and negates the other responsibilities; offense Joe Burrow, you would think that would prioritize defense, but no, you do not do that. Before this past season, he spent the previous six years in the first two games of the season, that’s 12 games over six years, his record was 1-11. I have called for an investigation on numerous occasions, investigate that man. What the hell is he doing in the offseason? The Cincinnati Bengals are never prepared to play in the beginning of September.”
Cincinnati Bengals Defense
The Bengals’ defensive issues in the 2025 season are no secret to anyone who followed the team. As he went off on the Bengals, Smith blasted the Bengals defense, saying, “What did they do defensively? 31st in total defense, 30th in scoring defense, dead last in run defense, 28th in third down defense. They are putrid. They are pathetic. And that’s the problem, I’m talking defensively, but certainly not offensively with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and those boys. But you gotta give them something. Bottom line is this, don’t be surprised, it’s the Bengals. They are experts at getting in their own way.”
This offseason, the Bengals appear to be planning on improving the defense. They are one of the top 10 teams in available cap space and also have a top 10 pick in the draft. However, it appears Stephen A. Smith has little belief that the Bengals’ decision-making will be correct.
Stephen A. Smith Doesn’t Hold Back on Cincinnati Bengals