Joe Giles-Harris

Giles-Harris led Cincinnati with 20 special teams tackles in 10 games played in 2025, after joining the team as a free agent during the '25 offseason ... He previously had spent one week on the Bengals' practice squad in December 2024, then closed out the '24 campaign with Jacksonville ... Originally a college free agent signee of the Jaguars in 2019, he played his first two pro seasons ('19-20) with Jacksonville, then spent time with Buffalo from '21-22 and New England from '23-24 ... In 32 career regular-season games (three starts), he has recorded 27 tackles, two TFLs, one sack and two PDs ... Played collegiately at Duke University (2016-18), where in his final year he was a team captain and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.

Giles-Harris led Cincinnati with 20 special teams tackles in 10 games played in 2025, after joining the team as a free agent during the '25 offseason ... He previously had spent one week on the Bengals' practice squad in December 2024, then closed out the '24 campaign with Jacksonville ... Originally a college free agent signee of the Jaguars in 2019, he played his first two pro seasons ('19-20) with Jacksonville, then spent time with Buffalo from '21-22 and New England from '23-24 ... In 32 career regular-season games (three starts), he has recorded 27 tackles, two TFLs, one sack and two PDs ... Played collegiately at Duke University (2016-18), where in his final year he was a team captain and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection.

Career transactions: Signed with Jacksonville as college free agent on 5-10-19 ... Waived by Jaguars on 9-3-19 ... Signed to Jacksonville practice squad on 9-5-19 ... Signed to Jaguars roster on 10-21-19 ... Waived by Jaguars on 11-2-19 ... Signed to Jaguars practice squad on 11-5-19 ... Signed to Jaguars roster on 12-5-19 ... Waived by Jaguars on 9-5-20 ... Signed to Jaguars practice squad on 9-6-20 ... Signed to Jaguars roster on 11-21-20 ... Waived by Jaguars on 5-4-21 ... Signed with Buffalo as free agent on 5-17-21 ... Waived by Bills on 8-31-21 ... Signed to Bills practice squad on 9-1-21 ... Signed to Bills roster on 1-24-22 (Reserve/Future) ... Waived by Bills on 8-30-22 ... Signed to Bills practice squad on 8-31-22 ... Released by Bills from practice squad on 1-17-23 ... Signed with New England as free agent on 8-9-23 ... Released by Patriots on 8-29-23 ... Signed to Patriots practice squad on 8-30-23 ... Signed to Patriots roster on 1-8-24 (Reserve/Future) ... Released by Patriots on 8-27-24 ... Signed to Patriots practice squad on 9-2-24 ... Released by Patriots from practice squad on 12-2-24 ... Signed to Cincinnati practice squad on 12-17-24 ... Signed off Bengals practice squad by Jacksonville on 12-24-24 ... Jaguars contract expired on 3-12-25; received no minimum salary offer and became free agent ... Signed with Cincinnati as free agent on 4-9-25 ... Contract terminated by Bengals on 8-26-25 ... Signed to Bengals practice squad on 8-27-25 ... Signed to Bengals roster on 10-30-25 ... Signed contract extension with Bengals on 1-5-26.

Pro career:

2019—Played five games as rookie for Jacksonville ... Spent 10 games on Jaguars' practice squad ... Had three special teams tackles ... Spent first seven games on practice squad, then signed to active roster Oct. 21 ... Made NFL debut Oct. 27 vs. N.Y. Jets ... Waived in early November and was not with team for Game 9, then was signed Nov. 5 to practice squad, where he spent following three contests ... Signed back to active roster in early December and saw action in each of team's final four games.

2020—Played nine games with three starts for Jacksonville ... Spent first seven games on practice squad ... Made first career start at LB Dec. 6 at Minnesota and had five tackles ... Notched first career sack Dec. 13 vs. Tennessee ... Started at DB on Dec. 27 vs. Chicago and had one solo tackle.

2021—Played two games for Buffalo; spent 15 games on Bills' practice squad ... Recorded one special teams tackle Dec. 12 at Tampa Bay.

2022—Played one game for Buffalo; spent 16 games on Bills' practice squad ... Tallied one special teams tackle Oct. 9 vs. Pittsburgh.

2023—Spent entire season on New England's practice squad. 2024—Spent first 13 weeks of season on New England's practice squad, then spent one game (Game 15) on Cincinnati's practice squad ... Signed to Jacksonville's active roster on Dec. 24 ... Played in five total games, with first three as practice squad elevation for the Patriots ... Recorded two defensive tackles and one special teams stop for New England ... Played in two games for Jaguars, registering one assisted ST tackle.

2025—Played in 10 games for Cincinnati ... Spent first seven games on Bengals' practice squad, then was elevated to active roster for Game 8 vs. N.Y. Jets, and signed to active roster on Oct. 30 ... Totaled seven tackles, two PDs, and a team-leading 20 special teams tackles (tied for sixth in NFL) ... Recorded three ST tackles in season debut on Oct. 26 vs. N.Y. Jets ... Registered first career PD on Nov. 23 vs. New England, defending pass on third-and-one to set up fourth down in third quarter ... Had career-best four ST tackles on Dec. 7 at Buffalo ... Entered Dec. 21 contest at Miami in fourth quarter of decisive Bengals win and recorded season-high three defensive tackles ... Tied career high with four ST stops on Jan. 4 vs. Cleveland.

College: Spent three seasons (2016-18) at Duke ... Started all 34 career games played and totaled 313 tackles, 32.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, two INTs, eight pass breakups, one FF and one FR ... Named first-team All-ACC in 2017 and '18, and was honorable mention in '16 ... Ranked third in ACC in tackles (125) and fourth in TFLs (16) in 2017 ... Named 2017 and '18 recipient of the Vincent Rey Award, an honor presented to Duke's most outstanding linebacker which is named after former Blue Devils and Bengals LB Vincent Rey.

High school/personal: Hometown is Montvale, N.J. ... Attended St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, where he helped lead team to back-to-back New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Non-Public Group 3 state championships in 2012-13 ... As a senior in 2014, recorded 95 tackles, three sacks and four INTs defensively, and 24 receptions for 315 yards and two TDs offensively ... Earned first-team all-state honors ... Graduated from Duke with degree in cultural anthropology and political science ... Younger brother, J.T. Giles-Harris, was an All-American lacrosse player at Duke and currently plays for the Denver Outlaws of the Premier Lacrosse League ... Last name is pronounced "jiles-HAIR-iss."

NOTE ABOUT NFL EXPERIENCE: Giles-Harris did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2019, '21, '22, '23 or '24.

Last Updated July 2026