Building Smarter This Offseason
In Cincinnati, spring is typically reserved for Reds baseball, chili cook-offs, and the early whispers of FC Cincinnati’s playoff hopes. But this year, the Bengals did something unexpected: they grabbed a slice of the offseason spotlight and refused to let go. And how did they do it?
By doing something radical in its simplicity.
They told us what they’re doing.
The Bengals' 2025 offseason workout schedule was released earlier and more comprehensively than in years past — and, frankly, more so than many other NFL franchises have dared to do this April. On the surface, it’s just a list of dates. But in today’s NFL, it’s something more. It’s a declaration of intent, a signal of stability, and—whether by accident or design—a very modern flex.
Let’s break it down.
A Phased Approach That Actually Makes Sense
Image via Sports Illustrated
NFL offseason programs follow a collectively bargained, three-phase format across all 32 teams. It’s like a federally mandated football warm-up — with just enough room for innovation.
Phase One is all about strength and conditioning. Think: trainers yelling, players sweating, and not a football in sight (unless you’re a quarterback or a receiver pretending to play catch during a wind sprint). The Bengals kick this off on April 21 with a focus on rehab, baseline strength, and—perhaps more than anything—getting the band back together after a long winter.
Phase Two introduces on-field work. Drills, footwork, positioning, and scheme installation begin here. No contact, no real opposition. Just muscle memory and repetition—important stuff for a team looking to integrate new talent while fine-tuning their identity.
Phase Three? That’s when it starts to feel like football again. Full team drills, albeit still non-contact. The Bengals will run OTAs from May 27 through early June and hold a mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. It’s the dress rehearsal before training camp, a crucial period for rookies trying to earn reps and veterans trying to show they haven’t lost a step.
That’s the NFL-wide framework. But here’s where the Bengals set themselves apart.
A Smarter Offseason, Cincinnati-Style
Under Zac Taylor, the Bengals have leaned into a player-first culture. This offseason, they’ve doubled down. Their early announcement of dates isn’t just administrative. It gives players clarity, it gives coaches structure, and it gives fans something most teams still treat like a state secret: visibility.
They’re not just checking boxes. They’re showing their work.
You can bet strength coach Joey Boese has individualized plans ready for each player, informed by GPS tracking data and biometric feedback. You can bet Taylor’s staff has blocked out hours for film, formation installs, and situational football. And by making those intentions public, they’re doing something incredibly rare in this league:
They’re letting us in.
The Power of Transparency
Transparency in the NFL is like a well-executed screen pass—rare, beautiful when done right, and often misunderstood.
By sharing their offseason timeline openly, the Bengals build trust on multiple fronts. First, with the media, who get to cover real storylines instead of just speculating about injuries and player drama. Then, with the fans, who can start the countdown to OTAs like it's Opening Day.
More importantly, it sends a message to the league: this is a franchise that has its act together.
This isn’t the Bengals of old, where dysfunction was more common than division titles. This is a Bengals team with Joe Burrow at the helm, Ja’Marr Chase on the outside, and a front office that understands the modern game isn’t just played on Sundays—it’s built in the quiet months.
And that transparency comes with a bonus: accountability.
When you say publicly, "We're installing new defensive wrinkles in Phase Two," and then the defense looks confused come preseason, people will notice. That pressure isn’t a bug—it’s a feature. It sharpens coaching. It clarifies player goals. It raises the standard.
A League of Extremes—and the Bengals’ Sweet Spot
Image via MSN
It’s worth noting where the Bengals fall on the NFL offseason spectrum.
Some teams, like the Eagles, are almost comically cautious. Nick Sirianni has been known to cancel OTAs entirely, citing player health. Others, like the Ravens or 49ers, go full throttle—packing OTAs with intensity and competitive edge (within the limits, of course). Then there are teams like the Bears and Texans, with younger rosters, that use every available day to grind and build cohesion.
The Bengals, meanwhile, hit a rare sweet spot. They’re efficient without being excessive. Structured without being rigid. They’re building something that works—because it’s modern, player-conscious, and rooted in trust.
That’s not just good football. That’s good business.
The New Gold Standard?
The NFL is an arms race not just of talent, but of culture. In that race, transparency and professionalism are competitive advantages.
This offseason, Cincinnati has given its fanbase a glimpse behind the curtain—and in doing so, they’ve pulled off something remarkable. They’ve made the work part of football interesting. They’ve reminded everyone that winning in January starts with honest, deliberate preparation in April.
And most of all, they’ve sent a clear message to their city, their players, and the rest of the NFL:
The Bengals aren’t hiding anymore.