The Only NFL Team Named After A Stove: The Shocking Origin Story Of The Cincinnati Bengals
It sounds like a ridiculous piece of trivia, but it’s 100% true: there is one National Football League (NFL) team whose name can be directly traced back to a common kitchen appliance. As of December 22, 2025, that team is the storied Cincinnati Bengals, a franchise currently navigating the challenges of the 2025 season with star quarterback Joe Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor at the helm. The bizarre link to a stove is a fascinating piece of pro football history that few casual fans know, connecting the modern-day AFC North contender to a small 1930s semi-pro team and a Pennsylvania stove manufacturer.
The Cincinnati Bengals name did not originate with the current franchise, which was founded in 1968 by legendary coach Paul Brown. Instead, the name is a deliberate homage to a previous Cincinnati football team from the 1930s, and it is that original team's founder who is responsible for the improbable kitchen connection. This deep dive uncovers the full, unique history, from the Floyd-Wells Bengal Stove to the roar of Paycor Stadium today.
The Bizarre Lineage: From Kitchen Range to NFL Franchise
The story of the "stove team" begins not with Paul Brown's 1968 expansion team, but with a semi-pro squad in the mid-1930s. The key figure in this origin story is Hal Pennington, who was tasked with establishing a new professional football team in Cincinnati in 1937. He needed a catchy, memorable name that would resonate with the local community and, crucially, would not infringe on the name of the city’s established baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds.
The Floyd-Wells Bengal Stove Connection
Hal Pennington was struggling to find inspiration for the team's moniker. According to historical accounts, the answer came to him in the most unexpected place: his mother's kitchen. The appliance in question was a model known as the Bengal Range, manufactured by the Floyd-Wells Co., a stovemaker based in Royersford, Pennsylvania. The stove featured a distinctive and eye-catching trademark—a fierce Bengal tiger logo.
- The Stove: The Floyd-Wells Bengal Stove (or Range).
- The Inspiration: The stove's trademark image—a Bengal tiger.
- The Founder: Hal Pennington, who named his 1937 team the Cincinnati Bengals.
Pennington loved the image of power and ferocity associated with the tiger trademark, and thus, the 1937 Cincinnati Bengals were born. This team played in the short-lived American Football League (AFL) until the league folded in 1941. The connection is direct and undisputed: the original Bengals were named after a stove's logo.
Paul Brown and the Rebirth of the Name
Fast forward to 1968. The legendary coach and former Cleveland Browns founder, Paul Brown, was granted an expansion franchise in the new American Football League (AFL). Brown, a pivotal figure in Ohio football history, decided to name his new team the Bengals as a nod to the city’s football heritage and the previous team that had played there three decades prior. This decision cemented the stove's indirect but permanent place in NFL history.
While the modern Bengals were not directly named after the stove itself, they inherited the name from the 1937 team that *was*. This makes the Cincinnati Bengals the only NFL franchise with this bizarre, unique, and charmingly domestic origin story.
Topical Entities and Cincinnati Bengals History
The Cincinnati Bengals franchise has a rich history filled with highs and lows, all under the shadow of the Bengal tiger moniker. The team has spent its entire history in the AFC North division (or its predecessors), battling fierce rivals like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns (Paul Brown's original team).
Key Milestones and Super Bowl History
The Bengals have appeared in the Super Bowl three times, famously losing all three. The first two Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowl XVI in 1982 and Super Bowl XXIII in 1989) both ended in agonizing defeats to the San Francisco 49ers. The third, Super Bowl LVI in 2022, saw the team, led by quarterback Joe Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor, fall short against the Los Angeles Rams, marking a recent era of competitive success.
Notable figures throughout the franchise's history include legends like Anthony Muñoz, one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time, and more recent stars such as wide receiver A. J. Green and running back Giovani Bernard. The franchise's current success is largely attributed to the dynamic duo of Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, offering fans a renewed sense of hope for a Super Bowl victory.
The Stadium Name Change: A Recent Update
In a significant and recent update to the team's history, the Bengals' home field, which had been known for decades as Paul Brown Stadium (named after the team’s founder), officially changed its name. In 2022, the stadium was renamed Paycor Stadium following a naming rights agreement with the Cincinnati-based human capital management company, Paycor. This change marked the end of an era, but the legacy of Paul Brown remains central to the franchise's identity.
The Bengals in the Current Landscape (2025)
To keep the information fresh and relevant, it is important to note the current state of the "Stove Team." The 2025 NFL season has presented unique challenges for the Bengals. Despite high expectations, the team has faced an injury-plagued season, which has been a major talking point among fans and analysts.
The leadership of Zac Taylor has been under scrutiny, but the team's core remains strong, anchored by Joe Burrow's elite talent. The team's performance, even amid struggles, continues to draw massive attention, particularly in the competitive AFC North. The "Who Dey" chant—the team's famous rallying cry—still echoes through Paycor Stadium, connecting the current squad to the long, winding history that started with a simple stove.
The enduring appeal of the Bengals lies in their unique story. They are a team of historical significance, founded by a legend, and named after a fierce animal whose namesake was, improbably, a kitchen appliance. This one-of-a-kind origin story ensures that the Cincinnati Bengals will forever hold the title of the only NFL team named after a stove, a fact that adds a quirky layer to their pursuit of a first Super Bowl title.
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