Former Cincinnati Bearcats safety and current Cincinnati Bengals safety Bryan Cook has been having as good a training camp as anyone in the NFL. The Bengals' typical league-worst defense is looking a lot better, challenging the Bengals' offense in training camp thus far.
Cook was drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 62 overall, by the Kansas City Chiefs. Cook won 2 Super Bowls in his 4-year career with the Chiefs. This offseason, as a free agent, Cook returned to his hometown, signing a 3-year $40.25 million contract with the Bengals.
2025 was Cook's best year on the Chiefs, playing in all 17 games, totaling 85 tackles, 50 of them solo, and six pass deflections. The Bengals led the NFL in missed tackles, with Geno Stone, Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr all being in the top 10 of missed tackles. With Carter and Knight Jr going into their second seasons and Stone being replaced by Cook, Cincinnati's tackling problem is going to get a lot more manageable. The Bengals also bolstered their defensive line with Trey Henderson's departure. They traded for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, signed Johnathon Allen and Boye Mafe, as well as drafting Cassius Howell out of Texas A&M.
With all the changes that the Bengals defense made, and with Cook and his superbowl winning experiance in the middle, they seem to be making strides in the right direction- everyone has been making plays this training camp, and Cook seems to be the one that is making the most.
Pick six, Number six.
— Caleb Noe (@CalebNoeTV) August 4, 2026
Bryan Cook jumps the route & picks-off Joe Burrow to end this series of 11-on-11.#Bengals pic.twitter.com/Qc4YSUdiJm
Zac Taylor on Bryan Cook:
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) August 6, 2026
“I see really good communication on that side of the ball. I see a high level of confidence.” pic.twitter.com/5zemWSs8vY
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