The Cincinnati Bengals are gearing up for the 2026 campaign, and once again, they will be aiming to make a Super Bowl run. After successfully finding their way to the big game in 2021, the Bengals have struggled to put the pieces of the puzzle together again, but a new year brings hope that it can finally be done this time around.
While Cincy has reshaped its roster over the past few years, several of the core players from that 2021 squad still remain in town. One guy who left after that season was starting tight end C.J. Uzomah, but he struggled to find his footing once he skipped town. Ahead of the 2026 campaign, Uzomah made a big announcement regarding his future in the league.
C.J. Uzomah Set to Retire as a Member of the Bengals
A fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Uzomah gradually turned himself into a crucial piece of the Bengals’ offense. While he was never the primary target in the passing game, Uzomah held his own when the ball found its way to him, and it should come as no surprise that his best season came in the year Cincy made its run to the Super Bowl (49 REC, 493 YDS, 5 TD).
Uzomah would sign with the New York Jets in free agency after the 2021 campaign, but he never truly found his way during his two seasons with them. The last time we saw Uzomah was in 2024, when he appeared in seven games for the Philadelphia Eagles, as he did not take the field at all in the 2025 campaign.
After remaining without a team for well over a year now, Uzomah has decided to call it a career, as he announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday. That decision came with a twist, though, as he will be returning to Cincinnati one last time so that he can retire as a member of the Bengals organization.
“Veteran TE CJ Uzomah is retiring from the NFL after ten seasons and he’s doing it a member of the Bengals,” Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team shared in a post on X.
C.J. Uzomah Solidifies His Bengals Legacy With Retirement Decision
GettyFormer Cincinnati Bengals tight end CJ Uzomah warming up during practice.
Uzomah was never the flashiest piece on the Bengals’ offense, but he knew what his role was, and he filled it to a tee. Cincinnati managed to quickly replace Uzomah, but he will always be remembered for the impact he had on the team in 2021. While he didn’t win a Super Bowl that year, he did get a ring as a member of the Eagles after they took down the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
Over the past few years, Mike Gesicki has established himself as a proper replacement for Uzomah, with Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson, and Erick All Jr. also factoring into the mix. If this group can combine to put up some solid numbers in the passing game, that could go a long way towards helping the Bengals find their way back to the Super Bowl.
Former Bengals Starting Tight End Announces Retirement Decision