"A dream come true": Bengals superfan Dan Hurley's wife Andrea shares snaps as husband is crowned the 'Ruler of the Jungle'
Dan Hurley is enjoying his best life this year. Just months after leading UConn men's basketball to its second-consecutive NCAA Tournament title, Hurley was named the Cincinnati Bengals' Ruler of the Jungle during their season opener against New England.
His wife, Andrea, shared photos of their Paycor Stadium visit. The Hurleys stepped onto the field prior to the Bengals' game and took pictures in different parts of the stadium.
Hurley, a lifelong Bengals fan, embraced the 'Ruler of the Jungle' role to perfection. Meanwhile, his family enjoyed the props that come with the honor. However, their visit was slightly blemished by the Bengals' 10-16 loss to the Patriots.
The Bengals established the 'Ruler of the Jungle' tradition in 2021. The award is a pregame moment where a celebrity gets to lead Cincinatti's 'Who Dey' chant. Some famous names have called themselves 'Ruler of the Jungle,' including Bengals legend A.J. Green and AEW star Jon Moxley.
Hurley's chance to hold the honor adds another exciting experience to his offseason and comes three months after he threw the first pitch at the NYY-Red Sox game at Yankee Stadium. The veteran coach also heads back to the White House with his Huskies tomorrow to celebrate their title defense.
Can Dan Hurley lead the Huskies to a rare three-peat?
Hurley's Huskies looked formidable in 2023-24, losing just three games all season en route to their sixth NCAA Tournament title. Despite receiving a massive contract offer from the Los Angeles Lakers, Hurley stayed true to UConn and signed a six-year, $50 million contract to keep him at Storrs through 2029-30.
Meanwhile, Hurley has worked with his staff to strengthen their roster this offseason, recently signing St. Mary's guard Aidan Mahaney. Results like that give UConn a realistic chance to become the only program besides UCLA to win three straight NCAA Men's Basketball championships.