The Old Firm

Lore & Background

In the annals of professional American football, specifically regarding the Cincinnati Bengals founded in 1967 as an AFL expansion team, there is no record of a rivalry termed 'The Old Firm.' This phrase belongs to a different sporting domain entirely: association football (soccer) in Scotland. The term describes the intense competition between Celtic and Rangers, two clubs based in Glasgow that have dominated Scottish football for over a century. Attempting to apply this label to the Bengals creates a historical contradiction. The Bengals' identity was forged through their unique 'Bengal' branding, their move from the AFL to the NFL in 1970, and their fierce battles within the AFC Central (later North). Their most storied contests are defined by the 'Steel Curtain' era clashes with Pittsburgh or the dramatic playoff games of the 1980s under Coach Sam Wyche. No historical document, game log, or fan tradition in Cincinnati ever utilized the moniker 'Old Firm.'

In Their Own Story

A young fan sits at a local sports bar in Over-the-Rhine, scrolling through old NFL archives. He types 'Bengals Old Firm' into his search engine, expecting to find tales of legendary gridiron battles from the 1980s. Instead, the screen fills with images of green and white kits on grass pitches in Glasgow, Scotland. Confused, he asks the bartender, who laughs gently and explains that while the Bengals have their own fierce rivals across the Ohio River, 'The Old Firm' is a story written in a different language, on a different continent, and on a round ball.

Reader's Guide

There is no origin for an 'Old Firm' rivalry involving the Cincinnati Bengals because it does not exist. The term is strictly reserved for Celtic vs. Rangers. The biggest clashes in Bengals history are against the Pittsburgh Steelers, featuring iconic moments like the 1981 playoffs or the 2005 AFC Championship game, none of which are termed 'Old Firm.'

What makes this distinction critical is accuracy; conflating Scottish football terminology with NFL history misrepresents the unique heritage of Cincinnati's professional sports teams.

Did You Know?

• The term 'Old Firm' refers exclusively to Celtic and Rangers in Scotland, not any NFL team.
• The Bengals' primary historical rival is the Pittsburgh Steelers, a relationship dating back to their AFL days.
• Cincinnati joined the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1967, long after the Scottish Old Firm was established.
• No official Bengals record or retired number is associated with the name 'Old Firm.'