Vonn Bell, a key member of the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense, returned after spending a season with the Carolina Panthers.
On a podcast Thursday, Bell highlighted one of the reasons he opted to return to the Bengals. The Panthers essentially rented him for a year and will cover the remainder of his salary in 2024.
Joe Burrow was the first to recruit Vonn Bell to return to the Cincinnati Bengals,
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is known for playing an important role in the team’s free agency recruiting, and the return of safety Vonn Bell was no exception.
Bell added that Burrow was one of the first people to contact him and recruit him during the 2024 free agency period.
Bell spent three seasons with the Bengals before signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He spent all three years on the team with Burrow. Bell was a defensive anchor who terrified opponents with his strong hitting talents.
His three seasons with the Bengals were undoubtedly the most fruitful of his career. With the Bengals, he posted his top two season tackle totals and forced fumble totals.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ secondary faltered without Vonn Bell, and Joe Burrow knew it.
With the departure of Vonn Bell and fellow safety Jessie Bates, the Bengals’ defense was perhaps the team’s weakest link in 2023.
While Bates will not be able to return, Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin told the Dayton Daily News that he believes in the young guys that went through some growing pains in 2023.
“We like both of those young players,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin stated. “They’re both very versatile, which is beneficial while playing in the backfield. Dax is quite versatile. This offseason, we’ll be working on finding the optimum role for him to maximize his skills.
“And how to effectively use him to demonstrate his range, size, speed, toughness, and all of his abilities. The same goes for Jordan. What is his best role, and where does he fit in the defense? Who is the communicator? All of that is something we go through during the offseason, and that coach Lou (Anamuro)
We shall do our best to fit together. But both of those players are young, skilled, and have demonstrated that they belong in this league.
Because of a youthful and inexperienced secondary, the Bengals finished 31st in overall defense and 28th in passing defense.
One significant defensive failure occurred when the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had not surpassed 400 yards since the 2020-2021 season, racked up 421 total yards on the Bengals. The Steelers have since moved on from the quarterback who achieved this accomplishment.Cincinnati Bengals supporters are glad Joe Burrow recruited Vonn Bell back to the squad.
Aside from his role as a defensive pillar, Vonn Bell became a fan favorite in Cincinnati following one particular play.
Before the game, opposing Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster danced on the Bengals’ emblem, causing the team and many fans to be unhappy. In the same game, Bell blew up Smith-Schuster as he ran across midfield, forcing a turnover and cementing his place as a Bengals fan favorite.
https://t.co/5PvJkKKtnk pic.twitter.com/O8WDYHG6RS
— BENGALS TALK 🗣 (@BengalsTalk) April 12, 2024
That, combined with regular, quality play, made many supporters delighted that Bell was returning to Cincinnati. They were not pleased when he died in 2023. Bell was also an important component of the play that advanced the Bengals to the Super Bowl in 2021.
I remember being surprised to see the Bengals re-sign Germaine Pratt and lose @Vonn Bell. I’m pleased as punch to have both on my favorite team again. Here’s a few fond memories of Mr. Bell’s first Bengals tenure pic.twitter.com/QYcE6uV8IM
— Erik (@egveitikkje) March 15, 2024
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