Bengals Reward Wyche With 5-Year Contract

Sam Wyche, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in National Football League history, reaped the rewards Wednesday when he agreed to a 5-year contract.

The Bengals, 4-11 in 1987, went 12-4 and won the American Football Conference championship this season before losing to the San Francisco 49ers in last Sunday’s Super Bowl, 20-16.

Wyche’s previous 5-year contract expired at the end of the 1988 season. Wyche, 44, got $250,000 a year under the old contract, but refused to discuss his new salary or other contract terms.

“Mike and Paul and myself have agreed to agree for another 5 years,” Wyche said, referring to the Bengals’ general manager, Paul Brown, and Brown’s son, Mike, the team’s assistant general manager. “I am looking forward to finishing some unfinished business.”