Once again, as a free agent in the NFL, Vonn Bell is in the mix. The former safety for Ohio place is returning to the place where he was successful twice in his football career.
Bell has signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. This represents Bell’s return to the team he played for and captained from 2020 to 2022. Ian Rapaport of NFL Network reports that Bell is agreeing to a one-year, $6 million fully guaranteed contract, with the Carolina Panthers, his previous team, covering the majority of the cost. Bell will play for the Bengals on the league minimum.
In the previous offseason, Bell inked a three-year deal with the Panthers following his three productive seasons in Cincinnati. Despite accumulating 69 total tackles, two passes defended, and an interception in his 13 games played, he was released by Carolina this month.
Bell was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. To start his NFL career, he played four seasons with New Orleans, where he totaled 348 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception.
Bell spent three seasons in Cincinnati after signing as a free agency with the Bengals following the 2019 season. Bell was a member of the Bengals squad that competed in Super Bowl LVI but was defeated by the Rams. Bell totaled 288 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 21 passes defensed, five interceptions, eight forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in his career in Cincinnati. As a free agent in the previous offseason, he left Cincinnati.
There were big expectations for Bell even before he arrived at Ohio State. The country’s No. 2 safety in the 2013 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, was a five-star prospect and was a top 30 player in the nation. Despite his lofty high school rankings, Bell was a backup as a true freshman, recording 19 total tackles and one tackle for a loss. He made his first start in the final game of the Buckeyes’ 2013 season in the Orange Bowl game against Clemson, registering seven tackles and an important interception.
After winning the starting job heading into 2014, Bell was a key cog in the Ohio State defense that helped carry the team to the first College Football Playoff national championship game. He had a career-high 91 total tackles, six interceptions, two tackles for a loss and one sack and was crowned a national champion as a sophomore.
After that national title, Bell and his teammates returned looking for a repeat chance. While the offense struggled early in the year, the Buckeye defense, led by Bell, helped carry the way, ranking in the top 10 in total defense. Bell managed 65 total tackles, two interceptions, and one tackle for a loss.
For his Ohio State career, Bell recorded 175 total tackles, nine interceptions, four tackles for a loss, and one sack. After his junior year, Bell was named first-team All-Amerian and first-team All-Big Ten. Following his junior season, Bell announced he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft.
Sam Hubbard, a former teammate of his from the Bengals and Buckeyes, will be reunited with him in Cincinnati. After missing the postseason the previous year, the two will try to return Cincinnati to the NFL playoffs.
