He is living the Bengals dream that every Bengals fan dreams of. He’s even living it.
The 36-year old punter has been rooting for the NFL team all his life. He was born in Cincinnati and attended college there. As a child, he dreamed of the Bengals winning Super Bowl.
Now, Cincinnati’s longest-tenured player, the Bengals’ oldest-tenured player, is just one victory away.
Huber shook his head, saying “It would change everything.” Huber said, shaking his head. “The city would collapse if we win this match.”
Sunday’s matchup with the Rams in Los Angeles marks the Bengals third Super Bowl appearance. This is also the first time the Bengals have made it to the Super Bowl in 33 years.
Ickey Woods was his first football memory. He is the touchdown-loving runningback with the amazing end zone dance. As a child, he didn’t have a favorite player but recalled being thrilled when Cincinnati drafted wide receiver Peter Warrick. Huber, then 14 years old, treasured his copy of ESPN The Magazine that featured Warrick and Courtney Brown.
Huber quickly became an expert on Bengals fans, with high expectations and many frustrating endings.
Huber stated that it took Huber a long time to wait for the moment. Huber said that they had been there several times but lost and then the long drought between then and now would have a huge impact on the city. They would be on cloud nine, experiencing the moment, excited, happy.
“I’d assume that the parade would be quite epic.”
Huber tried to forget about it this week but that image has reverberated in his mind as both a fan as well as as a player. The post-Super Bowl celebration was no different, with confetti being thrown around by jubilant (and sometimes crying) players to mark the NFL’s greatest achievement.
Huber stated, “You see it every single year.” “And you never know when you might get that chance.”
This is coming from someone who played 13 years in the NFL, and is currently tied with Ken Riley (ex-cornback) for the most regular season games played in franchise history with 209.
Huber insists that his playing days aren’t over, but he also has the scars of his fandom for a team that isn’t in this position often.
Huber collected his thoughts after the Bengals beat Las Vegas in Cincinnati to win their first playoff win in 31 years. Huber was published in The Player’s Tribune. Huber shared his childhood in Cincinnati, where he attended the University of Cincinnati. He was then drafted by the Bengals fifth round in 2009. Huber spoke of the joy at the Bengals’ ending the NFL’s longest drought in playoff victories and how it meant a lot to him and his hometown.
He said, “Once the article was out, I reached out to them on social media as well as via text messages from friends, just a few people who felt the same way.” “And they were able just to enjoy that article from the exact same perspective.”
In the divisional round, Tennessee won.
The Bengals won overtime at Kansas City to win the AFC championship. Huber was the holder of Evan McPherson’s 31-yard kick, which sent Cincinnati to the Super Bowl.
Huber smiled and said that it took a few minutes for the feeling to sink in. Huber smiled, describing how everyone is running around trying to figure out who to hug and what to do. It’s almost like you’re lost. It felt like I was just running around hugging random people and didn’t know what I was doing.
“I would love to have a camera on my, just like I’m running around in circles.”
He shared the moment with everyone he had ever met in Cincinnati.
Huber laughed and said, “I think that by the end of the night, I had like one thousand messages.” “But I’m sorry everybody, I didn’t get to reply to every one of them, but I’ll do my best to get some back.”
If everything goes in Bengals favor on Sunday, he’ll be able to have even more.
Huber stated, “It’s cool that years from now, our team will be considered some of the greatests of both the organization and the greats who have played for the Bengals.”
The team rallies Monday night at Paul Brown Stadium. This is the franchise’s home from 2000. The fans were pumped up and shouted for each player and coach who came out of the tunnel onto the field.
Huber almost brought down the place when he offered this to 30,000 people bundled up in stands:
He said that he hoped “we’ll return next week for after-party”.
This would be a huge-scale Bengals bash, which has been in the planning stages since a few generations. Huber had only imagined it all those years ago.
Huber stated that the entire city was just enjoying the ride and celebrating it. “I’m happy that they were able to experience it. It’s been a long wait, you know.
