A former Kansas City Chiefs safety recently signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and has his sights set on bringing home a Super Bowl win.

Bryan Cook went toe-to-toe with Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes during their time together as teammates, pushing each other to give their best. And he seems to have taken this competitive spirit with him to his new team.

CLNS’ Mike Petraglia posted a clip of safety Bryan Cook addressing the importance of winning a Super Bowl for the city he grew up in.

“I’m from here, so to bring back a Lombardi, I’m just gonna leave that thought for you all, as a homegrown person,” Cook said. “But then, from a selfless perspective, you know, they’re here for reasons too. They’re here to get a Lombardi, and I feel like now it’s my job to help the best I can, to give them the opportunity.”

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted the 26-year-old with the 62nd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Despite becoming a Chief, Cook never forgot his Cincinnati roots.

Bryan Cook was born and raised in Cincinnati. He attended Mount Healthy High School in Cincinnati and earned first-team All-Southwest Ohio Conference honors as a senior there.

He later transferred to the University of Cincinnati after spending two seasons at Howard. In his senior year, he recorded 96 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, and 9 passes defended, earning first-team All-AAC honors.

“And then to even think about seeing the joy on their faces, to know they accomplished it,” Cook said, “Man, it’s a beautiful feeling. So I’m just hoping to be part of something like that.”

Having signed a three-year, $40.2 million contract with the team, it seems that the reigning two-time Super Bowl champion’s main focus remains on helping Cincinnati earn a Super Bowl win this time.

What Is Bryan Cook Bringing To The Cincinnati Bengals?

The Cincinnati Bengals finished the 2025 NFL season with 171 missed tackles and allowed 28.9 points per game. Bryan Cook, who posted an impressive 5.6% missed tackle rate in 2025, is exactly the kind of reliable tackler the Bengals need to improve those numbers.

Moreover, Cook himself is determined to bring consistent wins to the Bengals on a long-term basis.

“Having that then plus our own success, it was just something that I want to implement,” he recalled. “I want to have that happen again, but on a different aspect, on a bigger aspect, but just not have it one time. I want to have it consistently.”

In 2023, he was named the starter for the season, but it was cut short due to an ankle injury. But he came back stronger the following season, setting career highs of 78 tackles and 5 passes defended.

Last season, he broke those records as well and recorded 85 tackles with 6 passes defended, while receiving an 83.5 PFF grade. 

With such potential, the Bengals have surely brought in an elite player. Let’s see how far Bryan Cook can take his new team this NFL season.

Read more at the Cincinnati Bengals Community!

Written by

Monika Khatai

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit