The Bengals offense grabbed all the headlines last season, and for good reason. However, the special teams unit deserves its flowers: Cincinnati graded out as the highest-ranked special teams unit in terms of PFF grade, boasting an impressive 90.9 special teams grade.

There was a major shift in NFL kickoff rules before 2024 that introduced the landing zone. If a kickoff hit the landing zone, it had to be returned, and if a kick landed in the end zone, it would be a touchback and be spotted at the 30-yard line. Teams handled the new procedures in different ways. The numbers suggest Cincinnati opted to boot the ball into the end zone as much as possible: The Bengals ranked sixth with 74 touchbacks on 98 kickoff attempts this season.

When teams did return the kick, they didn't see much success: The Bengals allowed 24.5 yards per return last season, the second-fewest in the NFL. Regardless of who kicked off, Cincinnati kicked it high, posting the second-highest average hang time on kickoffs (4.07 seconds). PFF gave the Bengals a 75.8 kickoff grade, the fourth highest in the league.

On the flipside, Cincinnati ranked fourth in kickoff return grade with a 75.8 figure. WR Charlie Jones provided the special teams highlight of the first half of the season, returning the opening kickoff against the Browns in Cleveland for a 100-yard touchdown. As a team, the Bengals tied with the Seahawks for the most forced miss tackles on kickoff returns with 21. Jones ranked 16th with seven despite missing the final 10 games of the season with injury. His 1.4 missed tackles forced per attempt led all returners.

Despite the offense taking away some of his shine, rookie punter Ryan Rehkow had a successful season as well. An undrafted free agent out of BYU, Rehkow was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason but picked up by the Bengals during training camp. An injury to incumbent Brad Robbins cleared the way for Rehkow, and he took advantage. The punter broke two Cincinnati single-season records, setting the franchise mark in gross average (49.1) and net average (43.3). Rehkow's longest punt of the season went for 80 yards, the second-longest boot by any punter in 2024 and a Bengals franchise record.

"The ball just gets small when he hits it sometimes, when it goes up in the air," Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said in October. "I have not seen anybody who can hit balls high and as far as he can. That combination. Some guys hit the ball higher. Some hit the ball (longer). But the combination is pretty rare. He's the most powerful guy I've coached."

Rehkow benefited from strong play around him as well. S Tycen Anderson led all gunners with nine tackles in punt coverage, and he ranked top five with 11 total special teams tackles. Anderson accounted for nine of the 12 total tackles by gunners for Cincinnati this season, per PFF. Anderson alone had more gunner tackles than half the teams in the league in his first year back after a torn ACL.

"I don't step on the field to be average," Anderson told Bengals.com senior writer Geoff Hobson in October. "I'm shooting for the stars."

Another undrafted gem, LB Maema Njongmeta made his impact on special teams with seven special teams tackles, a top-30 figure according to PFF. Long snapper Cal Adomitis ranked second at his position with four tackles. As a team, the Bengals had the second-fewest missed tackles on special teams with just 10, per PFF.

Njongmeta made possibly the biggest special teams play of the season in Week 14 against the Cowboys, recovering a muffed punt in the fourth quarter to set up a game-clinching drive by the offense.

Simmons entered the season with confidence but some uncertainty surrounding his special teams unit, full of young talent.

"When the bullets are flying and the lights are on, that's really the only way you can judge," Simmons said during training camp.

The lights came on, and the youth stepped up for the Bengals special teams in 2024.