Joe Burrow and team build locker room chemistry in a unique way away from the field

Aug 4, 2026, 2:56 PM CUT

January 04, 2026: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow 9 looks to pass the ball during NFL, American Football Herren, USA game action against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. /CSM Cincinnati United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20260104_zma_c04_296 Copyright: xJohnxMersitsx

Training camp has brought plenty of intensity for the Bengals, but some of the team's biggest moments are happening away from the practice field. Inside the locker room, Joe Burrow and several teammates have been spending their downtime around a table.

The team is using chess as another way to build chemistry ahead of the 2026 season.

"It is fun because chess is like a personality game, you know?" said Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Coker, according to ESPN. "It's like, what are you thinking? Are you trying to go? Are you playing defensive? Playing the long game? Trying to win now? I like it."

December 14, 2025: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow 9 during NFL, American Football Herren, USA game action against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. /CSM Cincinnati United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20251214_zma_c04_341 Copyright: xJohnxMersitsx

Tight end Erick All Jr. also enjoys seeing teammates gather around the board and believes it has helped bring the locker room closer.

"It felt good, the guys all gathering around the table," All said, according to ESPN. "It's a good way to bring guys [together]. And you got to be smart. You got to know your way around the board to play."

The Bengals aren't the first NFL team to turn to chess for a competitive edge. Back in 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers transformed the game into a locker-room ritual, with chess boards becoming as popular as ping-pong tables.

The chessboard has become a small part of the Bengals' daily routine, giving players a chance to unwind while continuing to build relationships before the season begins.

Can the Bengals unlock another gear on offense in 2026?

With Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, Cincinnati already has one of the league's top passing attacks.

But according to Yahoo! Sports analyst Nate Tice, opposing defenses have adjusted by keeping everything in front of them.

"That's a Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins stat," Tice said on the Yahoo! Sports NFL YouTube channel, according to A to Z Sports.

Tice noted that when facing cloud coverage in 2025, the Bengals ranked 26th in EPA per play and produced an explosive play rate of just 6.6 percent, and averaged 5.1 yards per play.

If those changes carry into the regular season, Cincinnati could unlock another level of an offense that already ranks among the league's best.

Could this locker room tradition help Cincinnati take the next step? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote