Howard Cross III

A college free agent signee of the Bengals in May 2025, Cross spent most of his rookie season on Cincinnati's practice squad ... He played in four games (one while on active roster, three as practice squad elevation), totaling four tackles and one FR ... Had a noteworthy six-year college career (2019-24) at the University of Notre Dame, where he played his final three seasons under former Fighting Irish and current Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden ... Started 13 games in 2024 for Notre Dame team that advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game ... Career totals at Notre Dame included 169 tackles, 19.5 TFLs and 11 sacks ... His father, Howard Cross Jr., played 13 NFL seasons as a TE with the N.Y. Giants (1989-2001), winning Super Bowl XXV following the '90 season.

A college free agent signee of the Bengals in May 2025, Cross spent most of his rookie season on Cincinnati's practice squad ... He played in four games (one while on active roster, three as practice squad elevation), totaling four tackles and one FR ... Had a noteworthy six-year college career (2019-24) at the University of Notre Dame, where he played his final three seasons under former Fighting Irish and current Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden ... Started 13 games in 2024 for Notre Dame team that advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game ... Career totals at Notre Dame included 169 tackles, 19.5 TFLs and 11 sacks ... His father, Howard Cross Jr., played 13 NFL seasons as a TE with the N.Y. Giants (1989-2001), winning Super Bowl XXV following the '90 season.

Career transactions: Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-9-25 ... Waived by Bengals on 10-3-25 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 10-6-25 ... Signed to Bengals roster (Reserve/Future) on 1-5-26.

Pro career:

2025—Played in four games as a rookie (three as practice squad elevation) ... Inactive for three games, and spent nine games (Games 6-14) on Cincinnati's practice squad ... Was not on roster for Game 5 vs. Detroit, as he was waived prior to game and signed to practice squad following game ... Recorded four tackles and one FR ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 21 at Minnesota, lining up for nine defensive snaps and registering one tackle ... Elevated from practice squad to active roster for Dec. 21 contest at Miami and recorded career-high three tackles ... On Jan. 4 vs. Cleveland, recorded first career FR when he jumped on loose ball in Browns territory in first quarter, setting up Bengals TD drive.

College: Spent six seasons (2019-24) at Notre Dame ... Played in 65 career games with 35 starts ... Recorded 169 tackles (80 solos), with 19.5 TFLs and 11 sacks ... Also had four PDs and three FFs ... Named second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in final season in 2024, when he started 13 contests for Fighting Irish defense that ranked second nationally in points allowed per game (14.3) and total yards allowed per game (298.3) ... Helped Notre Dame advance to College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2024 season ... Named second-team All-American by the Associated Press in 2023, when he started all 13 games at NT and had career-high 66 tackles.

High school/personal: Hometown is Paramus, N.J. ... Attended Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, N.J., where he totaled 218 tackles, 45 TFLs, 22 sacks, two PDs, two FFs and four FRs ... Had 22 TFLs and 9.5 sacks as a senior in 2018, and was named the NJ.com State Player of the Year while helping lead team to state championship ... Graduated from Notre Dame in 2024 with bachelor's degree in industrial and product design ... Father, Howard Cross Jr., played TE for the N.Y. Giants for 13 seasons (1989-2001), winning Super Bowl XXV following the '90 season.

Last Updated July 2026