Jessie Bates Says Cincinnati Still Holds a Special Place

Jessie Bates said his time with Cincinnati remains important to him as the Falcons prepare to face the Bengals in Madrid on November 9. He spent five seasons with Cincinnati before leaving as the team managed its salary cap, and said he understood that the club had to prioritize other players.

Bates recalled the Bengals’ Super Bowl runs and described those years as among the best of his life. He said he continues to care about the people he played with and that Cincinnati remains meaningful to him.

The safety has continued to perform at a high level in Atlanta. His Pro Football Focus grade this season is 84.1, and he has recorded a grade above 80 in three of his four seasons with the Falcons.

Cincinnati brought in Bryan Cook this offseason, but Cook’s grade has fallen to 44.7 so far in 2026, a career low. The account attributes the drop to possible lingering injury issues or other factors, without settling on a cause.

Bates is playing on an expiring contract with a $7.23 million salary-cap hit this season. His comments included a hypothetical about returning to Cincinnati, but any move would depend on Atlanta being willing to trade him. He also advised younger players that performance, character and conduct in the locker room all matter in the NFL.