Mobile native Willie Anderson was inducted into the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ring of Honor last Thursday night at Paycor Stadium, cementing his place among the franchise’s all-time greats in front of family, friends and former teammates who traveled to Cincinnati for the ceremony.
Anderson joined former Bengals wide receiver Isaac Curtis as the second class of inductees into the Ring of Honor, a distinction the team created in 2021 to recognize the most significant figures in franchise history. The two men were honored on the field before the Bengals took on the Miami Dolphins, a game Cincinnati went on to win 27-15.
A graduate of Vigor High School in Prichard, Anderson went on to become an All-SEC offensive lineman at Auburn University before being selected in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Bengals. He spent 12 seasons anchoring Cincinnati’s offensive line at right tackle, a position where he was widely regarded as one of the best pass protectors of his era. Anderson earned four Pro Bowl selections during his career and was named to multiple All-Pro teams, helping stabilize a Bengals offense during a stretch when the franchise was working to return to postseason contention.
The Ring of Honor’s inaugural class was inducted in 2021 and included four Bengals legends: quarterback Ken Anderson, longtime owner and head coach Paul Brown, offensive lineman Anthony Munoz and defensive back Ken Riley. Being included in only the second group of honorees places Willie Anderson among a small number of players the organization has chosen to single out in its more than five decades of existence.
The recognition adds to a growing list of honors for the Mobile-area athlete. Anderson was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, and he was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in voting held last year. Supporters of his candidacy point to his consistency and durability at one of football’s most demanding positions, along with his reputation as a leader in the Bengals’ locker room during a difficult period for the franchise.
For a community that has produced a steady stream of standout football talent, Anderson’s induction is another point of pride for Mobile and Prichard-area fans who followed his path from Vigor High School through a decorated career at Auburn and more than a decade in the NFL. Local supporters have long cited his career as a model for young offensive linemen from the Gulf Coast region who hope to follow a similar path to college and professional football.