The Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame formally welcomes the Class of 2023 on Saturday. This week, Yahoo Sports activities is highlighting every of the 9 males’s class, main as much as the large occasion.

Though the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ken Riley was not chosen to play within the AFL All-Star Recreation or Professional Bowl after the AFL and NFL merger, his affect on the sport has gone past these accolades.

A four-year faculty beginning quarterback, Riley was the Florida A&M quarterback who introduced the Rattlers to a few Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Convention titles and a 23-7 document. He additionally shone academically, receiving a Rhodes Scholar nomination.

Riley was chosen within the sixth spherical of the 1969 Mixed Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, the place he spent 15 years of his profession. Corridor of Fame coach Paul Brown has turned Riley right into a cornerback because the Bengals chosen quarterback Greg Cook dinner with the fifth general decide of the draft.

“We had been stereotyped on the time,” Riley mentioned. Ledger In 2008 black gamers. “Every part within the center – the quarterback, the quarterback, the center linebacker – these positions require considering, in order that they did not put us there.”

Nevertheless, Riley excelled in his new place.

Riley’s affect on the protection was evident – he made his first profession interception in his fifth recreation.

“Kenny was a tremendous participant and nonetheless holds the Bengals document for many interceptions in a profession. It might be nice if he was chosen to the Corridor of Fame,” staff proprietor Mike Brown mentioned in 2022.

Riley’s staff document of 65 interceptions for a profession has but to be damaged. He additionally holds different Bengals data, corresponding to most seasons performed (15) and most interceptions in a season (9).

“I do not know the way you set a quantity on intelligence,” Reilly’s former Cincinnati teammate mentioned Chris Collinsworth He mentioned. “And I do not know what number of touchdowns the Bengals saved as a result of he knew what was going to occur.”

Alvin Hollins, President of the Florida A&M Sports activities Corridor of Fame Tallahassee Democrat in 2020. “The one remorse is that he was not inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame previous to his dying. Lots of the gamers he coached made it to the NFL. We had nice success with him as a coach and director of athletics.”

After retiring from the NFL, Riley spent two years with the Inexperienced Bay Packers as an assistant coach. He finally returned to his alma mater and served as the pinnacle coach for Florida A&M from 1986-1993, capturing two MEAC Convention titles. Riley additionally served as FAMU’s athletic director from 1994 to 2004.

He died in 2020 on the age of 72 attributable to a coronary heart assault.

Though this honor is posthumous, Reilly believed his work would finally converse for itself. He didn’t complain or search public recognition.

“Your work speaks for you,” Riley as soon as mentioned He said About the opportunity of receiving the consideration. “Whether it is God’s will, then perhaps sooner or later it would occur.”

Barbara, Riley’s widow, will symbolize him at Canton when he’s formally honored.