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NFL Pioneer and Legendary Bengals Coach Kim Wood Passes Away

Wood was the NFL's first full time strength coach.
James Rapien|
Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; A general view of the helmet of Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) during warmups before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Sep 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; A general view of the helmet of Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) during warmups before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

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Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI — Bengals legendary strength coach Kim Wood passed away on Tuesday night. He was 80 years old.

Wood was the NFL's first full-time strength coach. He joined the Bengals in 1975, which was Paul Brown's final season as head coach. He remained in Cincinnati through the 2002 season.

Brown had a vision for what NFL strength and conditioning should look like and Wood was the perfect person to lead the charge.

Legendary Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams reacted to the news on Facebook:

"Sadly, I was told that Cincinnati Bengals Strength and Conditioning Coach Kim Wood passed away." Williams wrote. "No other one person is responsible for turning an Ivy League prospect into a 14 year starting linebacker in the NFL than Kim Wood. If he demanded one more rep, I would give him two. Absolutely no steroids! Just 8-12 perfect reps to failure, three times a week, keep a chart, don’t cheat yourself, and always improve, every workout, no matter where you are on the planet. Pain is your friend. Only appears when making you stronger. Rest In Eternity my friend."

Wood pushed the Bengals to the limit and did it in a clean way—especially with so many professional athletes turning to steroids in the 1970s and 1980s.

"The great athletes would do what Paul Brown talked about," Wood told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com in 2016. "They had fierce hearts and they ran on their own gas. The great athletes didn't take drugs. And if you ever asked them to 'Hey, try this,' they'd probably punch you in the face. It was not a part of their ethic."

Wood leaves behind four children and nine grandchilden. A celebration of life will be announced in the spring according to Bengals.com.

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James Rapien
JAMES RAPIEN

James Rapien is the publisher of Bengals OnSI. He's also the host of the Locked on Bengals podcast and Cincinnati Bengals Talk on YouTube. The Cincinnati native also wrote a book about the history of the Cincinnati Bengals called Enter The Jungle. Prior to joining Bengals On SI, Rapien worked at 700 WLW and ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati

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