Ken Riley was born on August 6, 1947. He grew up in Bartow, Florida. He attended Union Academy, where Forrest McKennie coached him. Riley played college football at Florida A&M University as a quarterback. There, he helped the team win three conference titles. He also earned academic honors and a Rhodes Scholar candidacy. After college, Riley earned a Master’s degree from the University of South Florida.
In 1969, Riley joined the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals switched him from quarterback to cornerback. He played for Cincinnati his entire career until 1983. Riley made 65 interceptions, ranking fourth all-time when he retired. He set several Bengals records for interceptions and return yards. Despite this, he was never selected for the Pro Bowl. Riley was chosen three times for All-Pro teams. He played in seven playoff games with Cincinnati.
After retiring, Riley coached for the Green Bay Packers and later became head coach at Florida A&M from 1986 to 1993. He then served as Florida A&M’s athletic director until 2003. Riley lived in Bartow in his later years.
He was named to the Florida High School Association All-Century Team in 2007. In 2010, he joined the Pro Football Researchers Association “Hall of Very Good.” He was inducted posthumously into the Bengals Ring of Honor. In 2023, he was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Riley died on June 7, 2020, at age 72. His life and career remain connected to Bartow, Florida, where he grew up and returned after football.
A native of Bartow, Fla., Riley attended Union Academy.
Ken Riley was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
