Just Some Fun Photos From The Last Time The Bengals Made The Super Bowl

The team faces off against the Los Angeles Rams at the Super Bowl on Sunday.

By
Pia Peterson
by Pia Peterson

BuzzFeed News Photo Editor

The last time the Cincinnati Bengals were in the Super Bowl, Ronald Reagan had just left the White House, and George H.W. Bush was sworn in as president. On Sunday, the team is headed back to the Super Bowl after 40 years. They narrowly beat Kansas City and will now face off against the Los Angeles Rams. We looked back at photos of the last two times they competed for the Lombardi Trophy, in 1982 and 1989.

Associated Press

Mark Elmlinger (left) from Cincinnati wears tiger stripes on his face and a Bengals conehead hat as he is joined by San Francisco 49ers fan Ed Schmitt of Palo Alto, California, who wears a 49ers goal post hat at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, on Jan. 24, 1982.

Associated Press

Cincinnati Bengals center Blake Moore grimaces as he works out on the weight-training equipment in Pontiac, Michigan, on Jan. 20, 1982, following the team's practice session for the upcoming Super Bowl game with the San Francisco 49ers.

Lennox Mclendon / Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers Amos Lawrence (center) is brought down by Cincinnati Bengals players on the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl in Pontiac, Michigan, on Jan. 24, 1982. Lawrence fumbled the ball, giving Cincinnati the ball.

Al Messerschmidt Archive / AP

A beaming Diana Ross after her performance of the national anthem before the Super Bowl in the Pontiac Silverdome on Jan. 24, 1982

Al Messerschmidt Archive / AP

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Forrest Gregg cheers play during the Super Bowl, a 26–21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Al Messerschmidt Archive / AP

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson sets to pass during the Super Bowl in Pontiac on Jan. 24, 1982.

Vernon Biever / AP

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson looks over the defense during the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers in Pontiac on Jan. 24, 1982. The 49ers defeated the Bengals 26–21.

AP

Some San Francisco 49ers fans crowd on top of a bus as it proceeds down Union Street in San Francisco's Marina District after their team defeated the Cincinnati Bengals during the Super Bowl on Jan. 24, 1982.

Al Messerschmidt Archive / AP

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson releases a pass during the Super Bowl, a 26–21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, on Jan. 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Anonymous / AP/Shutterstock

Matt Howard, 11 years old, of San Francisco displays a giant #1 sign in Pontiac's Silverdome before the start of Super Bowl XVI Between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1982.

Tony Tomsic

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Cris Collinsworth (#80) fumbles the ball during the Super Bowl on Jan. 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 26–2.

Gordon Morioka, Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services LLC

A cold-weather drink, undoubtedly something warm, was in order for these two Bengal fans in January 1982.

Al Messerschmidt Archive / AP

Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleaders dance during a 26–21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers during the Super Bowl on Jan. 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Focus On Sport / Getty Images

Jerry Rice (#80) of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass while being defended by Solomon Wilcots (#41) of the Cincinnati Bengals during the Super Bowl on Jan. 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. The 49ers won the Super Bowl 20–16.

Mike Powell / Getty Images

Safety Ray Horton (#20) of the Cincinnati Bengals stops wide receiver John Taylor (#82) of the San Francisco 49ers during the Super Bowl at the Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami on Jan. 22, 1989.

Focus on Sport via Getty Images

Ickey Woods (#36) of the Cincinnati Bengals carries the ball and is trailed by several San Francisco 49ers during the Super Bowl at Miami's Joe Robbie Stadium on Jan. 22, 1989.

Annalisa Kraft, Cincinnati Enquirer via Imagn Content Services LLC

Left: Glen Comstock of Erlanger blows his horn as he watches the game on the big screen at Fountain Square on Jan. 22, 1989. Right: Frigid weather or not, this high-spirited fan went bare-chested during part of the AFC Championship Game between the Bengals and Chargers on Jan. 10, 1982.

Rob Brown / NFL via Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers run out onto the playing field during the pregame introductions just before the 49ers' 20–16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals at the Super Bowl on Jan. 22, 1989, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami.

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Ken Anderson (#14) of the Cincinnati Bengals scrambles against the San Francisco 49ers during the Super Bowl on Jan. 24, 1982, at the Silver Dome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Niners won the Super Bowl 26–21.