The 1968 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's first year in professional football. Paul Brown, who left the Cleveland Browns following the 1962 season with an NFL record of 115–49–6, seven conference titles, and three NFL championships, had the urge to get back into football. His son Mike Brown did a study on pro football expansion and recommended Cincinnati as a potential site. In 1965, Brown met with Ohio Governor James Rhodes and the two agreed the state could accommodate a second pro football team.