Majority owner: Mike Brown, 79
Minority owners: None
Source of wealth: Football. The Brown family became wealthy after Mike’s father, Paul Brown, coached the Cleveland Browns from 1946-62. In 1968, Paul Brown founded the Bengals. The franchise has been run by members of the family ever since.
Net worth: $925 million (Forbes)
Residence: Cincinnati
Marital status: Married
Family: Wife, Nancy; daughter, Katie Blackburn; son, Paul Brown
Education: Dartmouth and Harvard (law)
When purchased team and how much? The Browns purchased the franchise in 1967 for $7 million. Mike Brown became the owner in 1991 following his father’s death.
Franchise valuation: $990 million (Forbes)
2014 revenue/rank: $258 million/27th (Forbes)
Owns stadium: No
Ownership philosophy: The Browns have been lauded for their patience and loyalty. Recent contract extensions for coach Marvin Lewis and quarterback Andy Dalton have proved that. Most coaches who couldn’t win a playoff game in five trips wouldn’t be retained, but last offseason, the Bengals gave Lewis a one-year extension. In Dalton’s case, structure aside, many around the NFL were surprised the Bengals signed the inconsistent quarterback to a six-year contract.
Defining moment in ownership tenure: The news conference Mike Brown had after the Bengals went 4-12 in the 2010 season to announce that Marvin Lewis would be back as coach, given a three-year contract extension, and that more control would be relinquished to him. Since that pivotal news conference, the Bengals have been consistently better, and have had better draft classes and free-agent signings.
Regular/postseason wins-losses during tenure: 155-227-2/0-6
General managers during tenure: Since Mike Brown assumed control of the team in 1991 he has been the team’s de facto general manager.
Coaches during tenure: Sam Wyche (1991), Dave Shula (1992-96), Bruce Coslet (1996-2000), Dick LeBeau (2000-02), Marvin Lewis (2003-present)
Playoff appearances: 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Super Bowl appearances/championships: None
NFL committees: Business committee (Hall of Fame subcommittee) and labor committee (management council executive subcommittee). Team reps Katie and Troy Blackburn (Brown’s daughter and son-in-law) serve on the finance committee (employee benefits subcommittee), business committee (Super Bowl advisory subcommittee) and labor committee (CBA Player Benefits subcommittee and workplace diversity subcommittee)
