Every NFL team has its own unique flavor that typically makes it stand out from the rest. Beyond the jerseys, players, and locations, they engage in traditions and chants that are truly their own, which stands true even for the franchises with a less-than-illustrious past behind them. Case in point: The Cincinnati Bengals. The orange and black stripes are familiar to practically everyone who watches the league. But, every time Joe Burrow flings it to Ja’Marr Chase for a touchdown, the “Who Dey” from the crowd might be a mystery to many.
So, let’s take a look at the history behind the iconic chant that Cincinnati fans shout religiously.
Examining the History of “Who Dey”
Since their inception in 1967, the Cincinnati Bengals have made less than 20 appearances in the postseason, a shockingly low mark. Further, with just three Conference titles and no Super Bowls, success isn’t something the franchise is awfully familiar with.
However, under their current regime, with a genuine superstar in Joe Burrow playing quarterback, the team’s future is as bright as it has ever been. But, even through the dog years of the franchise, one thing has remained common for the fanbase. Anytime both the hands of the refs go up to signal a touchdown, the “Who Dey” about to follow is synchronous and loud.
As “The Bengals Growl” blares through the speakers, the crowd knows its role.
“Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?”
“Who Dey? Who Dey? Who Dey think they gonna beat dem Bengals?”
“Nobody!”
The story about the origin story, though, involves beer, of all things. A local company by the name of Hudepohl Brewing released a bear named Hudy. Vendors around the old Riverfront Stadium, the team’s second stadium after they spent Year 1 at Nippert, would attract customers by shouting its name, which sounded quite like “Who Dey.”
From there, the crowd picked it up. However, the full chorus version may have been thanks to Red Frazier Ford in the area. They had a similar slogan for themselves, “Who’s going to give you a better deal than Red Frazier? Nobody!” which may have permeated into the fanbase.
The first time the chorus began, the year was 1981, as then quarterback Ken Anderson recalls. As the team went 12-4 and established itself as a franchise worth paying attention to, the fans responded in kind.
“We were the No. 1 seed and so we had a bye week and had both playoff games at home,” Anderson told the Sporting News. “It was the old Riverfront Stadium, and that’s when the ‘Who Dey?’ chant started. That’s when people started wearing the orange-and-black wigs and painting their faces. The banners showed up at the stadium. It was electrifying.”
Since then, the team has even changed stadiums, moving to the current Paycor Stadium back in 2000. But the fanbase and their chant have carried over, with “Who Dey” remaining iconic to this day.
As the Cincinnati Bengals fight for their playoff lives and need two definitive victories to have a chance to make it to the postseason, Paycor Stadium is going to need quite many “Who Dey”s to get to the promised land.