After the Bengals selected prized quarterback Joe Burrow with the first overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, it appears that former starter Andy Dalton’s tenure with the team has come to a close.
The news that the Bengals would release Dalton, the all-time franchise leader in touchdown passes and the team’s primary starter since 2011, came only a week after the draft was held.
Dalton, who was selected by Cincinnati in the second round of the 2011 Draft out of TCU, made the Pro Bowl three times during his years as the team’s franchise quarterback. He also led the team to five consecutive playoff berths between 2011 and 2015, but was eliminated in the Wild Card Round on each try.
Despite his early success, the Texas native showed signs of decline in recent years that ultimately led to him being benched for three games halfway through the 2019 season.
Dalton finishes his career in Cincinnati with 31,854 passing yards, 204 touchdowns, and 118 interceptions and a legacy of being the franchise’s all-time best quarterback, by some measures.
Now, Dalton, who will turn 33 in October, will have to look to resume his career elsewhere in the league after nearly a decade in Southwestern Ohio.
