[10] By 1995, he argued that Riverfront Stadium's small seating capacity and lack of luxury boxes was hindering the Bengals' success.

[25] The Bengals hold a number of distinctions for the time frame of Brown's ownership: It is the only team with three nine-game-or-more losing streaks.

[28] The Bengals have gone winless in October nine different times in twenty-two years under five different head coaches (Sam Wyche, the first under his ownership, was originally hired by his father).

The franchise's winless playoff record from 1991 to 2020 was the longest active drought in the four major North American sports.

Zac Taylor, Lewis' successor, was the first head coach under Brown to win a playoff game, which he achieved in 2021.

The team also won the franchise's first road playoff game and advanced to Super Bowl LVI, although they lost to the Los Angeles Rams.

In 2005, the Bengals drafted Chris Henry and Odell Thurman, each considered exceptionally talented but possible disciplinary hazards during their college careers.

Commenting on his death, Brown defended his decision to re-sign Henry, noting that "We knew him in a different way than his public persona.

"[37] Posthumously, it was discovered that Henry was suffering from a progressive degenerative brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

[38] According to a West Virginia University research study, the CTE may have contributed to Henry's troubled behavior and, ultimately, his death.

[38] Later in 2008, the Bengals signed running back Cedric Benson, whom the Chicago Bears had waived, in part, due to his off-field activities.

[39] In 2009, the team added Larry Johnson to provide depth for the position after the Kansas City Chiefs released him for "detrimental conduct.

He also signed undrafted free agent Vontaze Burfict in the 2012 offseason despite his legal history in college and high number of flagrant fouls while at Arizona State.

Cowher also beat the Bengals in the 2005 AFC Wild Card Game as well and went on to win a Super Bowl title that season.

[49] Daughter Katie Blackburn is the executive president of the team and her husband Troy is a VP with additional family members among the front office staff.

[51] Former Bengals receiver Cris Collinsworth argues Brown's loyalty played a role in a decision to not persuade Boomer Esiason out of retiring despite a productive 1997 season.

Collinsworth suggested Brown "thought he was doing the right thing by Boomer" and did not want to cost him the MNF job.

[62] Brown himself had been quoted the day before the draft as stating "we would dearly love to get a top defensive lineman, they're at a premium, and it's less true of other positions.

Then Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason and strong-safety David Fulcher both openly questioned the move the next day, arguing the team needed help on defense.

[65] Brown placed a great deal of responsibility on Carson Palmer, calling him the Bengals' "lead dog" and stating "as he goes, we go.

"[66] Palmer holds a number of team records, three Pro Bowl selections, and he helped Cincinnati win 2 AFC North Division Championships.

Over the years since the clause, Bengals players have commented on a negative atmosphere within the organization, notably Takeo Spikes,[77] Jeff Blake,[78] and Jon Kitna.

In 1994, agent Leigh Steinberg described Brown as "in a lonely fight for economic rationality in the NFL" and "a Don Quixote-type figure pushing back the forces of salary madness.

[90] Who Dey Revolution (WDR) has staged "Project Mayhem" since 2008 in an effort to persuade Brown to make changes to the Bengals.

These steps ranged from calling the Bengals "JERK line"[91] to report Brown's behavior as abusive[92] to purchasing billboards displaying a request for a general manager[93] to merchandise and ticket donations/boycotts[94] and letter-writing campaigns.

[95] The website's purchase and distribution of 1000 urinal cakes at a Bengals' home game advertised Brown's lifetime regular season record of 98–186–1 to that point.

After a surprising upset of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003, Marvin Lewis tearfully awarded the game ball to Brown and told his players "he has put up with so much for you guys.

Boomer Esiason, now a CBS analyst, refers to Brown as a "nice man" who is simply over his head running the team.

[99][96] In 1998 interviews, Cris Collinsworth and Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham also rejected notions that Brown did not care about winning.

The award recognizes a top executive for his or her passion toward philanthropy and honors the late Kent Clapp, CEO of Medical Mutual, who died in a 2008 plane crash.