CINCINNATI — Bengals legendary tight end Bob Trumpy has passed away. He was 80 years old.
Trumpy was a legend both on and off-the-field in Cincinnati. The Bengals picked him in the 12th round (301st overall) in the 1968 NFL Draft. He played for Cincinnati for 10 seasons.
“I’ve known Bob since we started here and he had an extraordinary career as both a player and a broadcaster,” Bengals president and owner Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was an exceptional and rare tight end who could get downfield and split zone coverages. Speed was his hallmark. He was as fast as any wide receiver and was a deep threat. That was rare for a tight end then and it’s rare now. As a broadcaster, he made his mark both locally and nationally, and excelled at sports other than football in a career that was as successful as what he accomplished on the field. He did it all very well and I regret his passing.”
Trumpy finished his NFL career with 298 catches for 4,600 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. He helped revolutionize the west coast offense.
“He was a matchup nightmare,” Bengals legend Dave Lapham told Bengals.com. “He was too quick for linebackers. Too big for safeties. Tough. Reliable. And he was an underrated blocker. He was a good one.”
Trumpy had the first receiving touchdown in franchise history—a 58-yarder on Sept. 15, 1968 at Nippert Stadium against the Denver Broncos.
Despite being one of the best players in franchise history, Trumpy is not in the Bengals Ring of Honor.
Not only was he one of the NFL’s best tight ends for a decade, but he revolutionized sports radio in Cincinnati.
Trumpy hosted “Sports Talk” on Cincinnati’s 700 WLW. He worked Super Bowls, the Ryder Cup and quickly became a broadcasting legend.
Trumpy paved the way for other Bengals like Lapham and Cris Collinsworth to have the careers they had in broadcasting following their playing days.
“A real pro. He always did his homework. Never took any shortcuts. He was a great guy to learn from,” Lapham told Bengals.com. “He taught me never to say no. Whatever they want you to do, do it.”
Check out the Bengals’ full story and announcement of Trumpy’s passing here.
Bob Trumpy’s impact will forever echo through The Jungle. Our hearts are with the Trumpy family.
🔗 : https://t.co/meoKJVNh1i pic.twitter.com/E7JhFDWCux
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 2, 2025
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