The Cincinnati Bengals have never won a Super Bowl, but they have a history of excellence at the wide receiver position. Four-time All-Pro Chad Johnson mentioned that when Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins visited the set of his "Nightcap" podcast on Wednesday, via Bengals.com's Geoff Hobson.

"One thing about Cincinnati," Johnson said. "We keep some elite receivers every time. Every time."

The 48-year-old didn't lie. In the 21st century thus far, the Bengals have had Johnson, Chase, and Higgins, with Johnson and Chase being two of the NFL's best receivers and Higgins being one of the best second options.

Johnson also expressed support for Chase and Higgins' new podcast "Chasing No. 1" on Overtime.

"What they've been able to accomplish as one is cool, and they understand they're doing it on their days off, or when they have time away from the game of football," he said. "They'll be able to talk about some things and allow the fans to see a different side of it like the things that are going on in their personal life. I think it's a great idea."

Johnson played for Cincinnati from 2001 to 2010, and still holds nearly every franchise receiving record. However, Chase and Higgins are fifth and 11th on the Bengals' all-time receiving yardage rankings, respectively, despite not having reached their 30s yet.

The difference is that now, Chase and Higgins can show their personalities in a podcast format during the offseason. Johnson played before it was common for athletes to do that, as traditional media like cable TV and newspaper interviews were still the dominant force.

The new setup humanizes athletes, as it gives them more control over how they're framed to the public. Instead of relying on TV stations and news outlets, they can talk directly to fans through their own show.

Chase and Higgins are a particularly intriguing pair for a podcast, given their shared history and future. They've played for Cincinnati since 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are signed through 2029 and 2028.

They should have plenty of stories to share about their past few years together, as well as their thoughts on the Bengals' future. Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow is also signed through 2029, but the team must fix a defense that ranked 30th in the NFL in points allowed (28.9 per game) in 2025.

Cincinnati owns the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.