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Before Cris Collinsworth became a premier broadcaster in the NFL, he was a Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver in the 1980s.
Collinsworth only played eight seasons in the NFL, all with the Bengals, but he was part of some of the best seasons in Cincinnati football history. The former wide receiver helped lead the organization to multiple Super Bowl appearances, which was a huge accomplishment for a team that never previously reached the promised land.
Collinsworth began his NFL career with three strong seasons, making three-straight Pro Bowls and All-Pro Teams from 1981 to 1983. He ended his career with 6,698 receiving yards and 36 touchdowns, but injuries forced him to retire before turning 30 years old.
Still, Collinsworth was a huge part to a handful of great Bengals teams, and he got a chance to play on the biggest stage a few times. Here's a look back at Collinsworth's Super Bowl history.
MORE: Meet Cris Collinsworth's family
Cris Collinsworth Super Bowl history
Super Bowl 16: 49ers 26, Bengals 21
Collinsworth stats: 5 catches, 107 receiving yards, 1 fumble
Collinsworth's Super Bowl debut came in 1982, when the Bengals and 49ers met for the first time in the Super Bowl. While San Francisco came out victorious, Collinsworth led all receivers with 107 receiving yards, but he did lose a crucial fumble to end a potential scoring drive.
Although the score was close, the 49ers controlled the game throughout as they had a 20-0 lead at halftime and never trailed. The Bengals scored three second-half touchdowns while fighting back, but the deficit was too great to overcome.
Super Bowl 23: 49ers 20, Bengals 16
Collinsworth stats: 3 catches, 40 receiving yards
Seven years later in 1989, the 49ers and Bengals had a Super Bowl rematch that included a similar result. However, this game was close throughout, and Cincinnati even had the biggest lead of the game with a 13-6 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The 49ers ultimately scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, one early and one late, to take their second-straight Super Bowl win and fourth overall. For Collinsworth, the veteran wide receiver had a quiet game with just 40 receiving, but that still led the Bengals receivers in the game.
This game was also Collinsworth's final NFL game, as he would retire in the 1989 offseason.
MORE: Most Super Bowl wins in history by player
Did Cris Collinsworth win a Super Bowl?
While Collinsworth spent eight seasons in the NFL, all with the Cincinnati Bengals, the wide receiver never won a Super Bowl. He did play in The Big Game twice in his career, both against the 49ers, but the Bengals lost both of those games.
In those two games, Collinsworth totaled eight catches for 147 receiving yards and no touchdowns.
MORE: Complete list of Super Bowl MVP winners through the years
Cris Collinsworth Super Bowl record
Cris Collinsworth ended his NFL career with an 0-2 record in the Super Bowl, as the Bengals lost both of their first two Super Bowl appearances to the 49ers. Cincinnati wouldn't make it back to the Super Bowl until over 30 years later, and the organization remains winless in Super Bowls.
In fact, Collinsworth was even broadcasting the Bengals' third Super Bowl appearance in 2022, when Cincinnati fell to the Los Angeles Rams.
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