CINCINNATI — There wasn’t much unnecessary drama to the Bengals offseason, just what the doctor ordered for a team that is all business heading into a prove-it 2026 season.
With training camp opening on Wednesday, the Bengals made it clear Monday during media day – otherwise known as “Mock Turtle Soup Day” at Paycor Stadium – that the team’s collective focus is in the right place as players report Tuesday and camp opens Wednesday on the Kettering Health Practice Fields.
In a notable departure from a three-decade tradition, 90-year-old team president Mike Brown did not step up to the microphone to field questions from reporters. While Brown was physically present to award the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award to Anderson High School’s Evan Dreyer, a restructured media format meant the day’s talking points were driven exclusively by the team’s coaching and front-office leaders.
Some of the biggest takeaways and comments from Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin, head coach Zac Taylor, defensive coordinator Al Golden, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons pointed to what this 2026 unit is capable of accomplishing, namely winning a Super Bowl.
First off, Tobin was clearly happy with the response of Joe Burrow to the front office going out and re-tooling the roster to give the team a new look on the defensive side of ball.
“Well, that’s a good thing because that’s the job that we’re trying to do every year that we try to do it, we’re we’re trying to give the football team what it needs to go out and win a championship,” Tobin told me. “That that is the only focus that we have, and to hear players buy into that, I think that’s motivating. I think it’s exciting.
“We’ve got a big opportunity in front of us, and we’re all excited about that opportunity. And Joe’s been around good teams, here, in college and in high school and everywhere else. He knows what a good team can be, but we got to go out and become a good team. We we have a lot of pieces that we’re proud of that we have seen perform at high levels, and if they can perform as a as a group at a high level, then we’ll really have some.”
Whether it’s free agents like linebacker Bobby Wagner or wide receiver Deebo Samuel, Tobin wasn’t in the mood for speculation.
“I’m not going to talk about any players that aren’t here. But do we look at the free agent market? We look at it every day, every single day. We’re always looking at what opportunities we have. We had a lot of really good opportunities come to us this year, and and to what the personnel department, what the ownership did is respond and make those opportunities realities. So we’re always looking at opportunities. Is there something coming around the plate tomorrow? No, but there might be. Who knows? We’re always going to judge what we can do to be better within the restrictions we have. There are restrictions in this league. There are financial and cap restrictions that are in this league that we have to work through not only this year, but next year and the year after that. And so, all of that is a part of the puzzle, but are we looking to improve the team? We’re always looking to improve the team.”
Tobin was also not in the business Monday of speculating on potential contract extensions for DJ Turner or Dax Hill. Tobin did acknowledge the Burrow contract restructure that freed up $10 million in cap space for the 2026 roster heading into the season.
“You’ve got to get through the season, and you have to have enough room to get through the season,” Tobin said. “And we want to have a practice squad, and we’re anticipating at least a few injuries that we’ve got to that we’ve got to account for, we we want to elevate guys when we feel the need to elevate guys. We have incentives in contracts that we have to account for. So there’s a lot of things that go into you can’t zero it out going into camp, and I I think that some people don’t understand that, but you have to have enough room to get through the season and do what you want to do throughout the season to keep your team at a high level, and so part of that was that that that that we needed some room. We we achieved what we wanted to achieve in bringing in talent, and we’ll see how that talent performs.”
Is this is the best roster Tobin has constructed in his 25 years as director of player personnel?
“Well, it’s hard to say. We’ve had a lot of rosters over the years I’ve been here,” Tobin said. “I feel really good about this roster. I think we’ve got a lot of pieces that have been proven productive NFL players, either here or elsewhere, that you can envision playing well. The group has to come together, you can have 11 separate pieces that don’t play as a group, and nobody looks like they’re good. And you can have 11 average pieces playing as a group, and suddenly you’re wondering if they’re a lot better than you thought they were. So we’ve got to come together as a group.
“It’s a hard question to answer right now, but from what I’ve seen so far, this is a motivated group, hungry to show what they can do. All 90 of them. Yeah, I’m not going to talk about any potential contracts or anything like that. All of our players are under contract, which is a good feeling. That’s that’s a positive going into camp, what happens in the future with other potential contracts? That won’t be something I’m really discussing. Do I want our players that are progressing to be here? Yes, I always want our players that are progressing to be there. I’m proud of those guys. We drafted them, they developed, and they are still blossoming in their career. And I think all of them sense a big opportunity not only for the football team, which is number one, but they sense a big opportunity for themselves, and that’s that’s great. I expect all of our players to come in motivated to maximize this season, both for themselves and the football team.”
The lights will be bright on Al Golden, with the talent now at his disposal. But he’ll have to put it all together in training camp.
“I think that’s what these six weeks are about, right? This training camp-that’s what it’s about,” Golden said. “It’s about how do we come together as a collective, who emerge as leaders, you know. Where are the position battles, and and and how do they play out? But also, and again, Zach challenged us with this the other day. Just take a deep breath and say, okay, are are we, you know, are the guys that are the most talented are we using them accordingly? You know, are we are we getting the most out of of you know what they do best? And I think that’s what we’re you know what we you know have to get done here in the next six weeks.”
Golden knows his defense will be out to prove a point this season. That edge should reveal itself starting in camp.
“I hope they do. I certainly do. I think the coaches do,” Golden said. “I think the guys that were here do. But I also know that the guys that were here were the same guys that fought through it, you know, fought through it and and got better for it, you know. For example, the linebackers, a lot of criticism, but you know, their the experience that they went through, the trials, the tribulations, the learning on the job against you know good competition, that all should compound for us now, and I think there’s a lot of coordinators around the league that would love to have 200 tackle guys coming back. That’s what we have, and they’re young, and they’re hungry, and I I think they do have an edge about them. And I would also, you know, you can juxtapose that with you know we we brought in eight guys between free agency and the draft, and that’s a significant, like that’s a significant number in the NFL to bring in one off season, and those guys are bringing a different sense of urgency and approach and you know vantage point. So I think that’s what needs to come together here in the next six weeks.”
On DJ Turner:
“I think DJ made incredible strides in terms of just adhering to a process and keeping it really small,” Golden said. “I know I said that to you guys a bunch during the year, but it’s not just cliche. He did it. It’s really hard to do, especially at this level, and he made consistent gains over time. He went from where he was week one, week two, to being the guy who was matching the best player on the other team, and he earned every bit of it. So he did a tremendous job, made growth every day, studied hard, took care of himself off the field, physically, mentally, and just really excited for him.”
Perhaps the most pointed comments came from head coach Zac Taylor when talking about the potential edge and chip on the shoulders of his team following a 6-11 season that ended with the Bengals posting their worst record since a 4-11-1 mark in 2020. Joe Burrow hinted at the edge in his two offseason press conferences.
“Well, I think that’s everybody,” Taylor said. “I mean, to me, I know when I look at standings, I look at our schedule, something we were six and 11/3, in the division. That’s what stands out to me. Is you picture that division ranking third in the division, and and every year is a new year. We got new players, all that kind of stuff. But that’s what sticks with me. Not that you need motivation, but does piss you off to an extent. That’s what we did, and that’s how people should see us until we prove them otherwise. And so I can’t speak for Joe and how he feels, but that’s certainly how I feel.”
While veteran defensive tackle B.J. Hill was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, both Taylor and Tobin downplayed concerns, calling it a cautious, administrative move following an ankle procedure. “He’s doing as well as we had hoped,” Taylor said, with the team expecting him back soon. With no contract drama, a revamped defense, and an intact offense, the Bengals appear focused on overcoming last year’s disappointment. The team moves from the talk of media day to the action of training camp on Wednesday.
The underlying message from the podium was clear: after missing the postseason, the window for patience has closed. Executive vice president Katie Blackburn had previously set the expectations high, and on Monday, the franchise’s decision-makers made it obvious that they are entirely unified behind a singular objective. The standard is no longer just competing in the AFC North; it is bringing a Vince Lombardi Trophy to Cincinnati.
