Nov 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) leaps in the air while running with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) during the second half at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Geno Stone Confirms Bengals Future Ahead of 2026 NFL Free Agency

Originally posted on Cincinnati Bengals on SI
By Russell Heltman | Last updated Mar 5, 2026 6:27 AM ET

The Geno Stone era is over in Cincinnati.

The Bengals' safety is about to be a free agent, and he commented on Instagram Wednesday night that he will not be coming back to play a third season for Cincinnati.

Stone was one of the poorest performers on the team over the past two years. He posted 53.1 and 54.3 Pro Football Focus grades in 2024 and 2025 in Cincinnati, failing to make the turnover impact he mustered in Baltimore to start his career.

Stone missed a team-high 23 tackles this past season and was second behind Germaine Pratt in 2024 with 17 missed tackles. Add in a 110.4 NFL passer rating allowed in his coverage area this season (16 points higher than in 2024), and you get a spot Cincinnati could upgrade through free agency or the draft.

"It comes down to certain situations where people aren't in the right spot, and that's what it came down to," Stone said at his locker after the Bengals loss to the Steelers on Nov. 16. "But I think overall, we played better. I'll say that we played better. I mean, definitely still got to tackle better, myself included, but we definitely played better."

Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

There will be a new starting safety alongside Jordan Battle, possibly as soon as next week.

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin discussed the position at the 2026 NFL Combine.

"Depends on who you are," Tobin said about the positional-value change for safeties. "I can name difference makers at every position. If you can find a difference-maker, it doesn’t matter what the position is behind his name. There’s definitely been difference-making safeties. There have been difference-making guards. The positions that are typically undervalued in free agency or whatever, there have been difference makers. And if you can find a difference maker that can elevate your football team, I think you do that."

Check out the full comment from Stone below:

Geno Stone not being a Cincinnati Bengal in 2026 is an addition to the defense pic.twitter.com/Z1IjvY2oWJ
— Bengals Central (@BengalsCentral_) March 4, 2026