The Bengals are bringing back a familiar face to fire up the crowd in Week 17 - and this one should hit home for longtime Cincinnati fans. Former first-round pick and longtime cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick will serve as the team’s “Ruler of the Jungle” when the Bengals host the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 28 at Paycor Stadium.
It’s a full-circle moment for Kirkpatrick, who spent eight seasons in Cincinnati after being selected No. 17 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. He later suited up for the Cardinals in 2020, making this particular matchup a fitting stage for his return to the Queen City spotlight.
For those unfamiliar, the “Ruler of the Jungle” has become a staple of the Bengals’ home game experience - a pregame tradition where a notable guest helps ignite the crowd and lead the stadium in chants. This season, the honor has gone to everyone from former players to viral celebrities like IShowSpeed. But this week, the spotlight shifts back to a player who left his mark on the Bengals’ secondary for nearly a decade.
Kirkpatrick’s impact in stripes was more than just symbolic. He played in 99 games for Cincinnati, starting 67 of them, and was a key part of the team’s defensive identity during the 2010s.
Known for his physicality and ball skills, Kirkpatrick recorded 10 interceptions as a Bengal - two of which he took to the house for touchdowns. He also racked up 254 solo tackles, showing a willingness to get involved in run support and take on tough assignments on the perimeter.
While his tenure in Cincinnati didn’t overlap with the current core led by Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, Kirkpatrick’s presence this weekend is a nod to the franchise’s past - and a reminder of the players who helped shape the team’s identity before this current era.
The Bengals enter the matchup at 5-10, while the Cardinals come in at 3-12. With both teams out of playoff contention, the game won’t carry postseason implications, but that doesn’t mean it lacks meaning.
For Kirkpatrick, it’s a homecoming. For the fans, it’s a chance to celebrate a player who gave his all in stripes.
And for the Bengals, it’s another opportunity to connect generations of Who Dey Nation - past, present, and future - under one roof.