Garrett Swanson is in his fifth season with the Bengals in 2023, and again serves as assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Since arriving in Cincinnati in 2019, Swanson and the strength and conditioning staff have led the physical development of an influx of new and young Bengals players. In 2022, he assisted in QB Joe Burrow's return to form after he underwent an emergency surgery to remove his appendix on the first day of training camp. Burrow was back on the field three weeks later, and went on to set single-season team records for completions (414) and passing TDs (35). Swanson additionally helped several notable starters return from injury, including WR Ja'Marr Chase (hip) and DT DJ Reader (knee).
In 2021, Swanson worked with multiple key players who returned from injuries to help lead the team to an AFC North Division title and a berth in Super Bowl LVI. Highlighting that crop was Burrow, who was named the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year after missing the final six weeks of his rookie season with a knee injury. Burrow set single-season franchise records in passing yardage (4611) and passer rating (108.3). TE C.J. Uzomah, coming back from an Achilles injury suffered in Week 2 of the 2020 campaign, recorded career highs in receptions (49), receiving yards (493) and TDs (five).
The strength and conditioning staff's efforts during Swanson's time in Cincinnati were particularly evident in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prohibited training at the team facility during the offseason. The staff adjusted and helped onboard a wave of new additions, including the team's seven-player draft class that went on to play 96 combined games as rookies.
In 2019, Swanson and the strength and conditioning staff helped Cincinnati to a late-season surge, with vast improvements on both offense and defense in the second half of the year. Offensively, the Bengals averaged 70.6 more rushing yards per game in the second half of the season (130.1) compared to the first (59.5), while allowing 10 fewer sacks. Defensively, Cincinnati totaled 11 more sacks the second half of the year, and gave up 84.1 fewer yards per game.
Swanson came to Cincinnati from the University of Illinois, where from 2017-18 he served as assistant strength coach under current Bengals strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese. During his tenure, Swanson helped the Illini develop a powerful rushing offense, which in 2018 ranked second in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (244.2).
As a player, Swanson spent four seasons (2012-15) as a punter at Fresno State University. He finished his career with 201 punts for 8411 yards (41.8 average) and 58 downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He additionally served as the Bulldogs' kickoff specialist and holder on placekicks. He also was a four-time Mountain West All-Academic team selection.
Swanson played all four seasons at Fresno State alongside fellow Bengals assistant strength and conditioning coach Todd Hunt, who lined up at defensive end. All four of his seasons also came under the tutelage of Boese, who was the team's head strength and conditioning coach at the time. Swanson, Hunt and Boese helped the Bulldogs to back-to-back conference titles in 2012 and '13, a first for the program since 1992-93.
In 2016, Swanson signed as a college free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. He played in three preseason games for Arizona and punted six times for 254 yards (42.3), with two inside-20s, before being released.
Swanson was born June 24, 1994, in Riverside, Calif. He attended Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, where he was a team captain and all-state performer as a punter, and was named team MVP as a senior. He also handled his team's placekicking duties, and converted a league-record 60-yard FG.
Swanson graduated from Fresno State with a degree in kinesiology-exercise science, and he also holds a master's degree in kinesiology from California Baptist University. He is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist by NSCA.
Playing and coaching history: 2012-15—Played punter, Fresno State. 2017-18—Assistant coach (AC), University of Illinois. 2019-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
