Insider: Bengals Emerge as Strong Contender to Host 2029 NFL Event
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Cincinnati Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin answers questions from the media during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine on March 1, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire NFL: MAR 01 Scouting Combline Icon2203014348
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 01: Cincinnati Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin answers questions from the media during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA Scouting Combine on March 1, 2022, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire NFL: MAR 01 Scouting Combline Icon2203014348
It's only a matter of time before the Cincinnati Bengals land an NFL Draft. Now, the Queen City has reportedly entered the race to host the 2029 draft, adding even more excitement to its growing football buzz.
"According to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, Cincinnati has the “inside track” to hosting the 2029 NFL draft," writes Chris Roling of Bengals Wire.
The Bengals have wanted to host the NFL Draft for quite some time. However, their bid to host the 2026 draft was delayed due to the construction of a new downtown hotel.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) and defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrate after Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is sacked in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 1 game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. The Bengals begin the season with a 17-16 win over the Browns.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (90) and defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrate after Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is sacked in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 1 game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025. The Bengals begin the season with a 17-16 win over the Browns.
“We’ve expressed interest, as have many other cities,” Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn told Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. “We are exploring it and seeing whether we can have an opportunity to do that. We would love it if we could. We would be excited about it. We’ll continue to work on it to see if it can happen.”
Now, with Washington set to host the 2027 draft and Minnesota landing the 2028 edition, Cincinnati has its sights on 2029, as per Rollins. Hosting the NFL Draft can wait. Right now, the Bengals are focused on one thing: winning the Super Bowl.
NFL Insider: It's 'Now or Never' for the Bengals
Three playoff-less seasons later, the heat is on the Bengals to perform, and ESPN's Dan Graziano believes it's "now or never" for Burrow and Cincinnati to finally deliver.
“Last season was the third year in a row that the Bengals missed the playoffs," Graziano wrote. "It was also their first losing season since 2020, which was Burrow's injury-shortened rookie year. And over the three-year stretch from 2023 to 2025, Cincinnati ranked 10th in the NFL in offensive EPA and 29th in defensive EPA. The problem seems clear.”
The Bengals have been a dangerous team whenever Joe Burrow is healthy, but the defense has been the clear weak link. However, the Bengals made some significant changes this year, and now defensive coordinator Al Golden has far fewer excuses if the unit disappoints again.
“A lot of this is on Burrow, who needs to stay healthy to give the Bengals the best possible chance," Graziano wrote. "But if he does and the defense still lets them down, leading to another missed playoff appearance, Zac Taylor's eighth season as their head coach could very well be his last."
What are your thoughts on the Bengals' chances of winning the Super Bowl this year?
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Written by
Suryakant Das
Edited by
Zaid Quraishi