Maema Njongmeta

One of the top stories out of last year's training camp, Njongmeta made the 53-man roster after joining the team as a college free agent in May of 2024 ... He played all 17 games with one start as a rookie, contributing primarily on special teams ... Totaled seven special teams tackles and a fumble recovery on punt coverage, while also adding six defensive stops and a recovery ... He led the Bengals and ranked second in the NFL with 27 tackles in the 2024 preseason ... Spent four seasons (2020-23) at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a starting LB role in his junior year ... Earned third-team All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2022, when his team-leading 95 tackles ranked seventh in the league.

One of the top stories out of last year's training camp, Njongmeta made the 53-man roster after joining the team as a college free agent in May of 2024 ... He played all 17 games with one start as a rookie, contributing primarily on special teams ... Totaled seven special teams tackles and a fumble recovery on punt coverage, while also adding six defensive stops and a recovery ... He led the Bengals and ranked second in the NFL with 27 tackles in the 2024 preseason ... Spent four seasons (2020-23) at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a starting LB role in his junior year ... Earned third-team All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2022, when his team-leading 95 tackles ranked seventh in the league.

Career transactions:

Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-10-24.

Pro career:

2024—Played in all 17 games in rookie season, with one start as a third LB ... Totaled six tackles and a FR defensively, and had seven special teams tackles (second-most on team) along with a special teams FR ... Lined up for team-high 371 special teams snaps ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 8 vs. New England, seeing action on team-high 19 special teams snaps ... Had two solo defensive tackles on Nov. 3 vs. Las Vegas ... On Dec. 1 vs. Pittsburgh, tackled RB Jaylen Warren at Steelers' 16-yard line on a KOR in the fourth quarter ... On Dec. 9 at Dallas, recovered a live ball following a blocked punt to give Cincinnati's offense possession late in fourth quarter; play led to game-winning TD drive ... Made first career start as a third LB on Dec. 15 at Tennessee, and recovered a fumble at Bengals' 38-yard line to set up game-tying TD drive in second quarter ... Tallied three defensive tackles and one assisted special teams stop on Dec. 22 vs. Cleveland.

College:

Spent four seasons (2020-23) at Wisconsin ... Redshirted for true freshman season in 2019 ... Played in 33 career games with 21 starts ... Earned starting role entering junior season, and over final two seasons he totaled 154 tackles with 21 TFLs and 6.5 sacks ... Named third-team All-Big Ten in 2022, when his 95 tackles led the team and ranked seventh in conference ... Had 59 tackles with 8.5 TFLs (third on team) in 2023.

High school/personal:

Hometown is Buffalo Grove, Ill. ... Attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill. ... Named first-team all-state by Illinois High School Football Coaches Association as a senior in 2018, when he recorded 131 tackles, 23 TFLs, 10 sacks and two FFs ... Was a team captain and named team MVP as a senior ... Majored in business with focus in finance, investment and banking at Wisconsin ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in four straight years (2020-23) ... First name is pronounced "moo-MUH" and last name is pronounced "jong-METT-uh."

Last Updated July 2025