The Bengals signed free agent Bryan Cook last week as a part of 2026 Free Agency. Here are five things to know about the newest Bengal safety.
1. Super Bowl Experience
Cook has plenty of experience in the big moments: The safety is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs. He was a part of three Super Bowl teams in Kansas City, recording an interception and four tackles in Super Bowl LIX against the Eagles.
2. Hometown Hero
The signing was a homecoming for Cook, who attended the local Mt. Healthy High School and the University of Cincinnati. As a member of the Bearcats, Cook was All-AAC First Team in 2021 and helped lead his team to the College Football Playoff that year. He becomes the sixth Bengal to play his high school ball in Greater Cincinnati and attend UC.
3. The Beginning
After receiving just one scholarship offer out of high school, Cook spent 2017 and 2018 at Howard University before transferring to Cincinnati. He tallied 93 tackles, 17 passes defensed and five interceptions with the Bison, including an interception returned for a touchdown against Morgan State.
4. Draft Pedigree
Cook was drafted in the second round (62nd) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the fourth safety off the board in a class that included Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton, Baylor's Jalen Pitre and Penn State's Jaquan Brisker.
5. Tackling Machine
The Bengals put an emphasis on shoring up the defense this offseason after leading the league in missed tackles in 2025. Enter Cook, who had the second-best missed tackle percentage (4.5%) among safeties with at least 85 takedowns, per Pro Football Reference. Pro Football Focus graded Cook as the fifth-best safety in football last season as well.
View the best photos of new S Bryan Cook.
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) addresses the defense in a huddle prior to a week 16 NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, December 21, 2025 in Nashville, TN.
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) intercepts a pass during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans.
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) waits in the tunnel prior to a week 12 NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, November 23, 2025 in Kansas City, MO.
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) lines up at the line of scrimmage during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla.
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) in action against the Indianapolis Colts during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) looks on during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers, 17-10.
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook comes onto the field during introductions before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann),
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) breaks up a pass to New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the week 3 NFL football game, Sunday, September 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Steve Sanders/Kansas City Chiefs via AP)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.
