Cincinnati's third-round draft pick in 2025, Fairchild stepped into the starting left guard role for the Bengals early in his rookie season ... He played and started 15 games as a rookie, lining up for 961 total offensive snaps (fifth-most on team) ... He came to the Bengals following a decorated college career at the University of Georgia (2021-24), where he started 24 contests, was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press in '24 and was a member of two national championship winning teams in '21-22 ... Also has a strong wrestling background, which caught the eye of Bengals offensive line coach and former jiu-jitsu world champion Scott Peters during the draft process ... Compiled a 67-0 record in his high school wrestling career, which included back-to-back Georgia state titles in the Class 7A heavyweight division ... Was teammates with Bengals OT Amarius Mims for three seasons at Georgia (2021-23).
Career transactions: Selected by Cincinnati in third round of NFL Draft (81st overall) on 4-25-25 ... Signed with Bengals on 5-8-25.
2025—Played and started 15 games at LG as a rookie ... Inactive for one game (Game 6 at Green Bay) due to knee injury, and was active/DNP for one game (Game 7 vs. Pittsburgh) ... Lined up for 961 offensive snaps, the fifth-most on the team ... Blocked for offense that ranked sixth in NFL in passing yards per game (235.6) ... Played all 52 offensive snaps at LG in NFL debut on Sept. 7 at Cleveland ... Helped open holes for offense that recorded season highs in rushing yards (181) and yards per carry (7.9) on Oct. 26 vs. N.Y. Jets ... On Nov. 27 at Baltimore, helped protect QB Joe Burrow, who passed for 261 yards and two TDs in his first game action in 11 weeks ... Pass protected for Burrow as he threw for 284 yards and season-high four TDs on Dec. 7 at Buffalo, while helping limit Bills to one sack ... On Dec. 21 at Miami, helped limit Dolphins to zero sacks and blocked for offense that totaled 407 net yards (105 rushing, 302 passing) ... On Dec. 28 vs. Arizona, blocked for offense that totaled season-high 29 first downs and 429 net yards ... Helped HB Chase Brown surpass 1000 rushing yards on the season in season finale on Jan. 4 vs. Cleveland.
College: Spent four seasons (2021-24) at Georgia ... Played in 34 career games with 24 starts ... Named second-team All-American and first-team All-Southeastern Conference by the AP in 2024, when he started all 14 games for Bulldogs offense that ranked third in SEC in passing (281.0 yards per game) ... Started 10 of 14 games played in 2023, helping Georgia lead SEC and rank seventh nationally in sacks allowed per game (0.93) ... Played in six total games in 2021-22 seasons, as Georgia won back-to-back national championships.
High school/personal: Hometown is Cumming, Ga. ... Attended West Forsyth High School in Cumming, where he had standout careers in football and wrestling ... In senior football season, he helped team rush for 1422 yards, had three rushing attempts for five yards of his own, and was selected to the 2021 All-American Bowl ... Compiled a 67-0 career record in wrestling, and won two Georgia state titles in the Class 7A heavyweight division ... Majored in sport management at Georgia.
