The Cincinnati Bengals are now officially on board with the NFL's Global Markets Program as they've been granted international marketing rights for Canada.
Cincinnati was one of the last three clubs to land an international market along with the Buffalo Bills (who also landed on Canada), and the Tennessee Titans (Ireland). All 32 franchises the opportunity to grow their brand in a nation outside the United States. The Bengals will experience this in the Great White North for at least the next five years, the length of time clubs are awarded rights through the program.
Canada is one of NFL's closest geographical neighbors and only about a state's height and great lake away from Cincinnati, but no matter the proximity, this is also a great opportunity for one of the Bengals' best young players to increase his stardom back up north.
Bengals' new Canadian market is great news for Chase Brown
Cincinnati rosters two native Canadians, one of them being running back Chase Brown. The fifth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft grew up in London, Ontario and spent before moving to Florida for his final two years of high school. After a productive college career at both Western Michigan and Illinois, Brown emerged as the Bengals' lead back during his season season in Cincinnati last year. He eclipsed 1,000 total yards by Week 14 and fell 10 yards shy of 1,000 yards on the ground due to an ankle injury in Week 17.
Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are the headlining stars of Cincinnati's offense, but Brown is next in line and is only going to grow in notoriety due to the nature of possessing the football more than anyone other than Burrow. Brown was ranked 38th in ESPN Mike Clay's initial fantasy football PPR rankings.
Brown's community back home knows him well, but more parts of the country will be able to follow his football journey and gain more exposure to him, at least for the next two years while he's under contract for the Bengals.
For a country still growing its American football identity, that's huge for a budding offensive star. His stardom would take another step forward should Cincinnati make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2022.
Brown is joined by tight end Tanner McLachlan as the two Canadians wearing the orange and black. McLachlan is from Lethbridge, Alberta, and is entering his second season in Cincinnati.
The top of North America will get to know their own Bengals a lot more in the coming years. As Brown pushes forward his already promising career, it's exciting to witness how large his stardom grows in the place he called home.
"Canada has a great history and passion for football, and we are excited to join the Global Markets Program to further engage with and grow our strong Canadian fanbase," Director of strategy and engagement Elizabeth Blackburn told Bengals.com. "Growing the game globally is an important priority for the NFL. We are excited to be part of the Global Markets Program's expansion to include all 32 teams and look forward to broadening the reach of Who Dey Nation in Canada."
