Former Bengals standout cornerback Riley dies at 72

Former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley, whose 65 interceptions are tied for the fifth-most in NFL history, died at the age of 72 on Sunday.

Riley spent his entire 15-year career with Cincinnati after the Bengals selected him in the sixth round of the 1969 draft. He played in a franchise-record 207 games.

“We mourn the passing of one of the greatest Bengals ever, Ken Riley," the Bengals tweeted.

Riley switched to cornerback in the NFL after being a four-year starter at quarterback for Florida A&M University.

After his playing career, Riley spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Green Bay Packers before returning to Florida A&M as head coach from 1986-93 and athletics director from 1993-2004.

Riley went 48-39-2 as Florida A&M coach while winning two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships and two MEAC Coach of the Year awards.

''I woke up this morning with a heavy heart as I learned of the passing of FAMU and NFL great Ken Riley,'' current Florida A&M head coach Willie Simmons said in a statement.

''Coach Riley was one of the first to welcome me to the 'FAMULY' and having him speak to our team before our first Orange and Green game is definitely at the top of my list of unforgettable moments as head coach here at FAMU.''

Riley was inducted into the Florida A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1977 and the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

''FAMU athletics and the entire Rattler Nation is deeply saddened of the passing of former FAMU football player, head coach, athletics director and NFL great Ken Riley,'' Vice President and Director of Athletics Kortne Gosha said in a statement. ''We wish his family our deepest condolences.''

Edited by Omnisport

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