According to multiple reports, Bengals playoff hero Vonn Bell is returning on a one-year deal to help the secondary's offseason renovation that began earlier in the week with the Geno Stone agreement.
Bell, a nine-year veteran known for his early-morning workout ethic and off-day secondary meetings during his three seasons in Cincinnati, is just what the doctor (in this case defensive coordinator Dr. Lou Anarumo) ordered as the Bengals look to improve their secondary's communication in order to prevent last year's spate of big plays allowed.
When he was here, Anarumo fondly called Bell's intelligence a 600 class in football. Safety Michael Thomas called him "a five-star general." The memo has now been read as reports earmark a reunion after a one-year hiatus in Carolina.
The Bengals are transitioning to a secondary depth chart that now has four starting caliber safeties in Stone, Bell, Dax Hill, and Jordan Battle in the wake of Nick Scott's release on Wednesday.
Bell knows the system cold and can help Stone learn it and Battle, a second-year player who won the job last year, perfect it. With the league going more and more to three safety looks, Bell is certainly more than just a veteran presence. It also means they may already be counting Hill as one of six or seven cornerbacks instead of with the four or five safeties.
Bell, 29, already has a secure spot in Bengals' lore. His hit that forced Steelers showman JuJu Smith-Schuster to fumble on the Bengals' logo moments after he danced on it in a 2020 Monday Night game at Paycor Stadium did as much as anything to set the table for the mindset of the 2021 Super Bowl run.
Then in the first series of overtime of the AFC title game in Kansas City that year, fellow safety Jessie Bates III tipped the Patrick Mahomes' pass to Tyreek Hill and Bell ran to the ball to make a shoestring dive for the interception to set up the winning drive.
Go back to a 2022 Bengals.com story documenting one of Bell's dawn workouts and this is why the Bengals love him in a new secondary room.
"I love the process," Bell said. "I like having guys coming from different backgrounds and coming together for one common goal.
"Then when you see yourself get older, you become a mentor and you see a young guy, it's like a reflection of you coming up.
"It's just a maturation process of him growing up before your eyes. That's why I enjoy it. That really fuels my fire. It's being there for the guys and doing things at a high level. And getting paid? Why not?"
A collection of S Vonn Bell's top photos from his first stint as a Bengal.
S Vonn Bell celebrates during the first quarter of the Bengals-Bills divisional game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, January 22 2023.
S Vonn Bell runs during the second quarter of the Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 15 2023.
S Vonn Bell arrives at Paycor Stadium for Wild Card Weekend against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, January 15 2023.
S Vonn Bell breaks the pass during the fourth quarter of Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, January 8 2023.
S Vonn Bell celebrates in the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
S Vonn Bell sacks Patriots QB Mac Jones in the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Patriots game on Saturday, December 24 2022 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
S Vonn Bell watches Buccaneers QB Tom Brady in the third quarter of the Bengals-Buccaneers game in Week 15 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida on Sunday, December 18 2022.
S Vonn Bell walks into the locker room before the Bengals play the Buccaneers in Week 15 of the 2022 season.
S Vonn Bell readies himself for the Bengals vs. Carolina Panthers Week 9 game on Sunday, November 6 2022.
S Vonn Bell secures the runner during the Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns Week 9 game on Monday, October 31 2022.
S Vonn Bell gives signals to his teammates during the Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens Week 5 game on Sunday, October 29 2022.
S Vonn Bell intercepts a pass during the Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins Week 4 game on Thursday, September 29 2022.
S Vonn Bell (Left) and DE Sam Hubbard walk out for the coin clip before the Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins Week 4 game on Thursday, September 29 2022.
S Vonn Bell rushes the quarterback during the Bengals-Steelers Week 1 Game at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 11 2022
S Vonn Bell hard at work at practice during the Bengals Week 1 preparation for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
S Vonn Bell completes a drill during a pre-season practice before the upcoming 2022 Bengals Regular Season.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9), offensive tackle Jonah Williams (73), strong safety Vonn Bell (24), and cornerback Mike Hilton (21) arrive at the Los Angeles International Airport for Super Bowl LVI on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Ryan Kang/NFL)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) intercepts a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, center, as Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) defends during overtime in the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Bengals won 27-24. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Safety Vonn Bell celebrates after making a sack against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Round.
Vonn Bell
Safety Vonn Bell pregame at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals' Vonn Bell (24) and Jordan Evans (50) look to recover a fumble by Pittsburgh Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster (19) during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Cincinnati.
Vonn Bell (24) recovers a fumble during a game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020.
Safety Vonn Bell greets his teammates prior to the Week 8 contest against the Tennessee Titans during the 2020 season.
