One year after ripping the Bengals' selection process for their Ring of Honor, Corey Dillon is receiving his wish.
Cincinnati will induct the franchise's all-time leading rusher into its Ring of Honor this season, the club announced on Thursday, in a two-man class that also includes defensive tackle Tim Krumrie.
Dillon and Krumrie will join Ken Anderson, Willie Anderson, Paul Brown, Boomer Esiason, Chad Johnson, Anthony Munoz and Ken Riley in the club's Ring of Honor, which was established in 2021.
Dillon voiced his displeasure with the Bengals organization a year ago when speaking with The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr., telling him "I'm pretty sure they will put (expletive) Jon Kitna in there before they put me."
When Dillon played for the Bengals, he was nothing but consistent, racking up 1,000-yard seasons annually from his rookie campaign of 1997 through 2002. After a prolonged contract dispute, Dillon was traded to the New England Patriots in 2004, and rushed for a career-best 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns en route to winning Super Bowl XXXIX over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dillon retired with 11,241 rushing yards and 82 touchdowns, and remains the Bengals' all-time leading rusher.
Krumrie spent his entire career with the Bengals in an era that preceded free agency, recording 1,017 tackles and 34.5 sacks over 12 seasons. He earned two All-Pro selections (second team in 1987, first team in 1988) and two consecutive Pro Bowl nods in 1987 and 1988, playing a key role in Cincinnati's turnaround from cellar dweller to AFC champion under head coach Sam Wyche. In an unfortunate twist, Krumrie suffered a broken leg in Super Bowl XXIII before returning to play in all 16 regular-season games in 1989. He retired with 188 regular-season games played, the most ever by a Bengals lineman on either side of the ball.
Dillon and Krumrie will be inducted into the Ring of Honor during halftime of Cincinnati's Week 3 game against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 23.