Vonn Bell Bio
Vonn Christian Bell is an American professional football safety known for his versatility, tackling, and playmaking in the defensive backfield. He played college football at Ohio State University, where he helped the Buckeyes win a College Football Playoff national championship, and entered the NFL when the New Orleans Saints selected him in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Across his career, Bell has been a steady starter for the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, and Carolina Panthers, and he returned to Cincinnati for a second stint in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Vonn Christian Bell was born on December 12, 1994, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He spent his first two years of high school at Chattanooga Central High School in Harrison, Tennessee, where he earned all-district honors. He then transferred to Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Georgia, where he continued to develop as a defensive back.
In his senior season at Ridgeland, Bell led the team to the Georgia Class AAAA state championship game, where they fell to Sandy Creek 41–10. He was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com and was ranked the number two safety in the country. ESPN rated him as a high four-star recruit and the 50th-best player nationally regardless of position. Bell was selected to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game and committed to Ohio State University on February 6, 2013.
Path to the NFL
Bell enrolled at Ohio State and appeared in all 13 games as a backup during his freshman season in 2013. He made his first career start on January 3, 2014, in the Discover Orange Bowl, where he recorded his first collegiate interception. The following season, he became a full-time starter for the Buckeyes, playing all 15 games and recording 91 tackles along with a conference-leading six interceptions.
As a junior in 2015, Bell was recognized as a First-team All-American and a First-team All-Big Ten selection. In the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Oregon, he contributed six tackles and a sack, capping Ohio State’s national title run. He entered the 2016 NFL Draft process as one of the top safety prospects, attending the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis before performing positional drills at Ohio State’s pro day on March 11, 2016.
Vonn Bell Career
New Orleans Saints (2016–2019)
The New Orleans Saints selected Bell in the second round, 61st overall, of the 2016 NFL Draft, trading their 2016 third-round and fourth-round picks to the New England Patriots to move up and secure him. He signed a four-year, $3.97 million rookie contract on May 10, 2016, and made his professional regular-season debut on September 9, 2016, against the Oakland Raiders. Working behind veterans Jairus Byrd and Kenny Vaccaro, Bell finished his rookie year with 87 combined tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and a sack in 16 games and 14 starts.
Over the next three seasons, Bell grew into a starting role. In 2017, he posted 83 combined tackles and 4.5 sacks and started his first playoff game, a wild-card win over the Carolina Panthers. In 2018, he set a then-career high with 89 combined tackles while sharing the strong safety role with Kurt Coleman. In 2019, he started all 13 games he played, recording 89 combined tackles, his first career interception, and his first career touchdown on a fumble return against the Seattle Seahawks.
Cincinnati Bengals First Stint (2020–2022)
On March 26, 2020, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Bell to a three-year, $18 million contract with a $3 million signing bonus, and head coach Zac Taylor named him the starting strong safety alongside Jessie Bates. He started all 16 games in 2020, finishing with 100 combined tackles, five pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
In 2021, Bell played a key role as the Bengals won the AFC North and advanced to Super Bowl LVI. During the AFC Championship Game at Kansas City, he intercepted a pass from Patrick Mahomes in overtime to help Cincinnati reach the Super Bowl, where the Bengals fell 23–20 to the Los Angeles Rams. In 2022, he started all 16 games and set a career high with four interceptions, including two against the Miami Dolphins in a single game.
Carolina Panthers (2023)
On March 15, 2023, the Carolina Panthers signed Bell to a three-year, $22.50 million contract with $13 million guaranteed and a $5.83 million signing bonus, naming him a starting safety alongside Xavier Woods. He opened the season with an interception of Derek Carr against the New Orleans Saints but missed three games after a quadriceps injury. Bell started 13 games in 2023, recording 69 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception, before the Panthers released him on March 13, 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals Second Stint (2024–Present)
On March 15, 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Bell to a one-year, $1.21 million contract, and head coach Zac Taylor named him the starting strong safety alongside Geno Stone. He opened the year with a season-high nine combined tackles in a Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders and intercepted a pass in a Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers. Later in the season, he was replaced in the starting lineup by Jordan Battle and finished 2024 with 55 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Bell’s signature moments came in the 2021 AFC Championship Game, when his overtime interception of Patrick Mahomes sent Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI. He also recorded his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery against the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and posted a career-high four interceptions in 2022. Across his career, Bell has started more than 100 regular-season games and has been a durable presence at both free and strong safety.
Vonn Bell Career Wins
Bell has been a consistent contributor rather than a headline stat-sheet leader, but he has helped his teams to meaningful team success. He was a key member of Ohio State’s College Football Playoff national championship squad in 2014, he helped the New Orleans Saints win the NFC South in 2017, and he started every game of the Cincinnati Bengals’ run to Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season.
Team Highlights
With the New Orleans Saints, Bell was part of an 11–5 team in 2017 and started the wild-card victory over the Carolina Panthers. With the Cincinnati Bengals, he helped the team reach the AFC Championship Game in 2021 and the Super Bowl, then posted a career-high four interceptions in 2022. His individual play has been recognized with a 2015 First-team All-American selection and a First-team All-Big Ten honor.
Vonn Bell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bell has spoken about the influence of his older brother, Volonte Bell, who worked as an assistant coach at Chattanooga State Community College. Volonte was a consistent presence in Bell’s early football journey and offered steady support as Bell progressed through high school and into the college ranks.
Personal Life
Bell’s older brother, Volonte Bell, was killed in a car accident on February 24, 2020, a loss that has been noted as a defining moment in Bell’s life. Beyond that, Bell keeps his personal and family life largely private, and limited public information is available about his marital status or children.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 season, Bell’s contract with the Cincinnati Bengals was scheduled to run through the end of the year, putting him in line for free agency afterward. With Jordan Battle having taken over the starting strong safety role late in 2024, Bell’s path back into the starting lineup may depend on his performance in camp and on any injuries or scheme changes along the Bengals’ secondary.
The Bengals return most of a defensive backfield headlined by Geno Stone and Jessie Bates, and Bell’s veteran experience and tackling ability give Cincinnati another option in sub-packages and on special teams. For Bell, the 2025 season offers a chance to re-establish himself as a starter while also positioning him for a potential multi-year deal on the open market, either in Cincinnati or elsewhere.