Ken Riley, the former Cincinnati Bengals standout who was head coach and athletic director at alma mater Florida A&M, died Sunday. He was 72.
The school announced the death, saying Riley died in Bartow. A cause of death was not released.
“Coach Riley was one of the first to welcome me to the FAMULY and having him speak to our team before our first Orange and Green game is definitely at the top of my list of unforgettable moments as head coach here at FAMU,” FAMU head coach Willie Simmons said in a statement. “My deepest condolences go out to his family and we as football community will surely honor his memory.”
Riley played 15 seasons for the Bengals as a defensive back, with 65 career interceptions — fifth in NFL history — for 596 yards and five touchdowns — all franchise records. He recovered 18 fumbles. Before his NFL career, Riley was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Rattlers.
