Bengals’ Zac Taylor Endears Himself to Cincinnati Fans With Playoff Ritual

The coach said the “tradition is never going to die.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor is carrying on a tradition he began last postseason in Cincinnati.

When the Bengals win a playoff game, Taylor personally delivers game balls to different establishments throughout the city that have supported the team.

So after the Bengals’ 24–17 wild-card win over the Ravens on Sunday night, Taylor made sure to deliver game balls the same night. He wrote the date and score on each ball, along with the message of “They gotta play us!”

After the game, Taylor admitted that the “tradition is never going to die,” so as long as the Bengals keep winning in the postseason, Cincinnati fans apparently can expect to see the coach show up at a few bars after a game.

Zac Taylor…a man of the people.

After every playoff win, he delivers game balls to Bengals bars to thank them for their support. pic.twitter.com/sPvvp5AKf8

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) January 16, 2023

Taylor arrived at a bar called Blind Pig on Sunday night, and the crowd of Bengals fans went absolutely wild. 

“We appreciate it,” Taylor said into a microphone. “You’re the best fans in the whole world. Another playoff win, the first of many.”

.@Bengals HC Zac Taylor started a tradition of handing out game balls around Cincinnati after playoff wins last season.

This city loves this team. 🙌 (via @kevinherbers) pic.twitter.com/CT6erMTFgW

— NFL (@NFL) January 16, 2023

The Bengals face the Bills on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET in a divisional playoff matchup. If the Bengals can win in Buffalo, Cincinnati fans apparently can expect Taylor to pass out more game balls when the team returns home.