The voters once again got it right. Bob Trumpy and James Brooks are the two voted into the 2026 class of the Bengals Ring of Honor. These two Bengals legends are getting their recognition after years on the ballot. The ceremony will take place at halftime of the Bengals November 1st game against the Tennessee Titans. Both Brooks and Trumpy were pioneers in the passing game, during their time with the Bengals.

Bob Trumpy was an original Bengal. A 12th-round draft pick on Paul Brown’s 1968 Bengals team, Trumpy caught the franchise’s first receiving touchdown in 1968. A true freak of a player, who was a nightmare for opposing defenses. Former teammate and current Bengals Ring of Honor member Dave Lapham described Trumpy as “too quick for linebackers and too big for safeties.” An athletic receiver and a big blocker, Trumpy was the hybrid tight end before the hybrid tight end became a thing. Trumpy paved the way for the modern tight end with his style of play. His 1969 season was a career year. One of the true Bengals greats, a four-time Pro Bowl tight end, Trumpy amassed 4600 receiving yards on 298 receptions during his AFL/NFL career. Trumpy had 835 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns in 14 games earned him AFL All-Pro honors. Trumpy transitioned from a great football career to a great broadcasting career. Featured on NFL broadcasts and sports talk radio, Trumpy was a true pioneer on and off the field.

 James Brooks is widely regarded as one of the best running backs in franchise history. A backfield stalwart in Cincinnati, was involved in one of the most lopsided trades in Cincinnati sports history. In 1984, Brooks was traded to the Bengals for veteran rusher Pete Johnson. A trade that was shocking at first, quickly became a landslide trade for Cincinnati. Brooks became a top tier, dual threat player out of the backfield. During his tenure in Cincinnati, only three running backs amassed more yards from scrimmage than Brooks, who totaled 9459 yards. Those three, Eric Dickerson, Roger Craig and Marcus Allen, all are enshrined among football’s immortals in Canton. A four-time Pro Bowler with the Bengals, Brooks gained over 1200 yards from scrimmage five times during his eight years in Cincinnati. Another defining characteristic of Brooks is that he is recognized as one of the toughest players there was. He would run the steps of Riverfront Stadium multiple times a week during the offseason and was built like a linebacker. Brooks, who was only 5’10” and 180 pounds was not afraid of contact. A dangerous receiver and rusher, Brooks was a great blocker as well. He wouldn’t shy away from taking on a pass rusher.

These two are incredibly deserving of this honor and voters once again nailed it by selecting James Brooks and Bob Trumpy. Congratulations.

Chris Asbrock and Impact Sports Cincinnati can be followed on Twitter   and