Despite not having made the playoffs for three straight years, the Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most talented star trios in quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, and wide receiver Tee Higgins. However, this is far from the first time that they've had elite players.

The Bengals were founded in 1967 and competed in the West Division of the AFL (American Football League) before joining the NFL in 1970. Since then, they've won three AFC championships and 11 division titles. They won the defunct AFC Central five times before joining the AFC North in 2002, which they've won six times, most recently in 2021 and 2022.

Cincinnati also has 16 total playoff appearances, as they made it three times in the 1970s, three in the 1980s, once in the 1990s, twice in the 2000s, five in the 2010s, and twice so far in the 2020s. 

Here are the 10 best Bengals players of all-time, excluding active players:

Curtis laid the blueprint of consistency for the Bengals' franchise. The California native played for the team his entire career, which spanned from 1973 to 1984, and was a four-time Pro Bowler. He also earned second-team All-Pro honors three times and is a member of the Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor and the 50th Anniversary Team.

Curtis was so fast that the NFL created "The Isaac Curtis Rule" in the 1970s, which states that a defender can only block a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage. He was constantly double and triple-teamed downfield as well as held at the line by defenders before the rule was created. He helped the team win its first AFC title in 1981 and finished his career with 416 receptions, 7,101 receiving yards, and 53 scoring catches.

Dillon played for Cincinnati from 1997 to 2003, after the team drafted him with the No. 43 overall pick in 1997. The Seattle native is the franchise's all-time rushing leader (8,061 yards) and was a three-time Pro Bowler over his Bengals tenure. He then earned another Pro Bowl selection as a member of the New England Patriots and won Super Bowl XXXIX.

Brown is a Bengals Ring of Honor and 50th Anniversary Team member. 

Riley is the epitome of a "diamond in the rough." The Bengals drafted the Florida native No. 135 overall in 1969, but he's now the franchise's all-time interceptions leader (65). Similar to Curtis, he played for the team his entire career (1969-1983) and was a part of the 1981 conference-championship-winning squad.

Green is an example of a football player who made the most of what he had. The former Georgia Bulldog played with quarterback Andy Dalton for almost the entirety of his Bengals tenure, who was far from elite. However, he's still second on the franchise all-time list in receptions (649), receiving yards (9,430), and touchdown catches (65).

Cincinnati drafted Green No. 4 overall in 2011, and he made the Pro Bowl each year from 2011 to 2017. The South Carolina native was also a two-time second-team All-Pro.

Anderson was a key reason why Dillon succeeded with the Bengals, as he was a dominant run-blocker as a right tackle. The three-time first-team All-Pro also helped fellow tailback Rudi Johnson make the Pro Bowl in 2004.

Cincinnati picked Anderson No. 10 overall out of Auburn in 1996 and started 116 consecutive games for the team from 1999 to 2007. The Alabama native is a Bengals Ring of Honor, 40th Anniversary Team, and 50th Anniversary Team member.

Atkins was another Day 3 gem in the NFL Draft, as he was a dominant force on the defensive line after Cincinnati picked him 120th overall in 2010. The former Georgia Bulldog played his entire career with the team (2010-2020), totaling 384 tackles and 75.5 sacks. He is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, was an eight-time Pro Bowler, and a five-time first-team All-Pro.

Known as Chad Ochocinco from 2008 to 2012, the Miami native holds nearly every Bengals receiving record and was one of the most electrifying players in franchise history. The four-time All-Pro finished his Cincinnati tenure with 751 catches, 10,783 receiving yards, and 66 touchdown receptions. 

Johnson was drafted No. 36 overall by the Bengals in 2001 and played for them through the 2010 campaign. The six-time Pro Bowler is in their Ring of Honor and is a member of their 40th and 50th Anniversary Teams.

Anderson was Cincinnati's first star quarterback. The Bengals drafted the Illinois native 67th overall in 1971, and he's now their all-time passing yards leader (32,838). He's also second to Dalton in completions (2,757) and touchdown passes (197).

Anderson was a four-time NFL passer rating leader, three-time completion percentage leader, and two-time passing yards leader. He also won the NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year awards in 1981, when he led the franchise to its first-ever Super Bowl appearance. He played for the squad until 1986, spanning his entire career.

Esiason didn't play for Cincinnati as long as Anderson, but he accomplished nearly as much in a shorter amount of time. The Bengals picked the New York native 38th overall in 1984, and he led them to a Super Bowl appearance during his 1988 MVP campaign. They lost a 20-16 nail-biter to the San Francisco 49ers, and the franchise never made it that far again until Burrow and Chase led them to another Super Bowl loss in the 2021 season.

Esiason played for Cincinnati until 1992 and was a three-time Pro Bowler over his tenure with the team. He also earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1988 and is a Bengals Ring of Honor and 50th Anniversary Team member.

Munoz is not only a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but he was named the greatest offensive tackle in NFL history by an ESPN panel in 2022. The former USC Trojan is Cincinnati's only Hall of Famer and played his entire career with the team (1980-1992). He helped protect Esiason during the AFC title-winning 1988 campaign.

Munoz was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft and was an 11-time Pro Bowler and 11-time All-Pro. He's a member of the NFL 100th and 75th Anniversary All-Time Teams as well as the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.