C.J. Uzomah is hanging up his cleats, and he’ll do it the way his NFL story started: as a Cincinnati Bengal.
According to Ari Meirov, the former Bengals tight end will officially retire as a member of Cincinnati, a fitting end for a player who spent the bulk of his career with the team and carved out a steady role on offense.
The Bengals took Uzomah in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Auburn, and he went on to play seven seasons in Cincinnati. He wasn’t the flashiest name in the huddle, but he became exactly the kind of tight end every quarterback leans on - a secondary receiving option who could also handle his work as a blocker.
His best stretches came in 2018 and 2021. In both of those seasons, Uzomah finished with at least 42 catches and 430 receiving yards, and he combined for eight touchdowns across the two years.
The 2021 campaign stood out most because he was part of Cincinnati’s unexpected march to Super Bowl LVI. Along the way, his energy and leadership made him a favorite in the locker room and with the fan base.
After that season, Uzomah moved on to the New York Jets, where he spent two years before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. He never appeared in a regular-season game for Philadelphia.
Uzomah’s career ends with 16 receiving touchdowns and nearly a decade in the league. He was never one of the NFL’s most prolific tight ends, but he built a solid career on consistency, versatility and leadership. Finishing as a Bengal gives the story the right ending, with the team where his professional journey began and where he made his biggest mark.
In Other News...
Bengals Tackle Uncertainty Keeps Pressure On Front Of Joe Burrow
The Bengals search for help on the edge is still very much alive, and Cam Robinson has surfaced as one more veteran name tied to the conversation. Bleacher Report identified the offensive tackle as a possible free-agent fit for Cincinnati, a reminder that the front of Joe Burrows pocket remains an area the team is still trying to sort out as camp competition continues to unfold.
For now, the Bengals are giving reps to a group that includes Jalen Rivers, Corey Robinson II, Javon Foster and Brian Parker II, hoping one of those players can stabilize the tackle picture. Robinsons market is the catch, though, and his recent contract values suggest Cincinnati may only press harder if the current options fail to hold up the way the staff wants. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Final Roster Battle Just Got More Uncomfortable For One Big Name
The Bengals are heading into the final stretch of roster cuts with little room for comfort, and the clock is already ticking toward Sundays 6 p.m. deadline to trim from 89 players to 53. Zac Taylor made it clear that the preseason finale is not a ceremonial last look, either, saying no one who takes part should treat a roster spot as secure.
That reality adds extra weight to a few of the names still fighting for jobs, especially with players like Dohnte Meyers and others turning in strong recent preseason performances. Those outings have made the back end of the roster more interesting than expected, and the finale now carries real consequences for anyone hoping to survive the cut. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Fans Just Got An Emotional C.J. Uzomah Farewell
C.J. Uzomah closed the book on his NFL career as a Bengal, announcing his retirement through social media and giving Cincinnati fans one last emotional moment from a player who spent much of his pro life tied to the franchise. A fifth-round pick by the Bengals in 2015, Uzomah carved out a 10-year career that also included stops with the Jets and Eagles, but his announcement made clear where the strongest bond remained.
For Bengals fans, the news lands with a familiar mix of appreciation and nostalgia. Uzomah made sure to thank both the organization and the fan base in his retirement message, a fitting ending for a player whose name has long been woven into the modern Bengals era, even as the next chapter now begins off the field. [Read more 🡒]