Bengals DB Bryan Cook Watches UC Bearcats in Big 12 Tourney

New Cincinnati safety cheers on his former college team in first-round win.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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New Cincinnati Bengals safety Bryan Cook was in attendance at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City to watch his former college team, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats, defeat Utah in the first round of the Big 12 men's basketball tournament.

Why it matters

Cook's presence at the game shows his continued support for the Bearcats program that helped develop him into an NFL draft pick. As a new member of the Bengals, his connection to the local university is an asset for the team's fan engagement efforts.

The details

Cook, who starred at UC from 2019 to 2021, was signed by the Bengals to a reported three-year, $40.25 million deal during the NFL's legal tampering period on March 9. The Bearcats, seeded 9th, defeated 16th-seeded Utah in the tournament's opening round.

  • On March 10, 2026, Cook attended the Bearcats' Big 12 tournament game in Kansas City.
  • On March 9, 2026, the Bengals agreed to terms with Cook on a three-year contract.

The players

Bryan Cook

A new safety for the Cincinnati Bengals who previously played for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats from 2019 to 2021.

University of Cincinnati Bearcats

The men's basketball team of the University of Cincinnati, which defeated Utah in the first round of the 2026 Big 12 tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Words can't explain how excited I am.”

— Bryan Cook (@GoBearcatsFB)

What’s next

The Bearcats will advance to face the winner of the matchup between the 1st and 16th seeds in the next round of the Big 12 tournament.

The takeaway

Cook's presence at the Bearcats' tournament game demonstrates his continued support for his former college program, which will be an asset for the Bengals as they look to engage with the local Cincinnati fanbase.