Cody Ford Bio
Cody Ford is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and has been active in the NFL since 2019. Over the course of his professional career, Ford has suited up for the Buffalo Bills, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Cincinnati Bengals, contributing as both a guard and a tackle on the offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Cody Ford was born on December 28, 1996, in Pineville, Louisiana, United States. He grew up in the Pineville area and attended Pineville High School, where he developed into a highly regarded offensive line prospect. His size and physical tools made him one of the more talked-about high school linemen in the region during his prep career.
After completing high school, Ford committed to TCU before ultimately flipping his commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners. He enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in 2015 and redshirted his first year on campus, preserving a season of eligibility while adjusting to the strength and conditioning demands of major college football. His recruitment to Oklahoma placed him within one of the most consistent programs for producing NFL-ready offensive linemen.
Path to American Football
Once at Oklahoma, Ford was part of a Sooners offensive line that developed a strong national reputation. He made an early impact on the field, starting the first three games of the 2016 season before suffering a broken fibula against Ohio State, an injury that forced him to miss the remainder of that year. The setback interrupted his development but did not change his trajectory as a top college prospect.
Ford returned to health and worked his way back into the starting lineup, eventually anchoring the Oklahoma offensive line during the 2018 season. That year, his play helped the unit earn the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football. Following the 2018 season, Ford announced his decision to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft, where he was viewed as one of the top interior offensive linemen available.
Cody Ford Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Ford’s college career began with a redshirt season in 2015 as he adjusted to life in the Big 12 Conference. In 2016, he earned starts early in the year before a broken fibula ended his season and forced him to take a medical redshirt path. He spent the 2017 campaign regaining his form and re-establishing himself as a starter along the Sooners offensive front.
By 2018, Ford had emerged as a key piece of the Oklahoma offensive line. He was named a third-team All-American and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors, recognition that reflected his growth as a run blocker and pass protector. That same season, the Sooners offensive line won the Joe Moore Award, and Ford entered the 2019 NFL Draft cycle ranked as the number three guard available by analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Ford was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round with the 38th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he alternated between guard and tackle, eventually seeing extended time at tackle after starter Ty Nsekhe suffered an ankle injury. During Buffalo’s Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Ford was flagged for an illegal blindside block in overtime as the Bills were attempting to move into field goal range. The penalty contributed to Buffalo’s defeat, and Ford was later fined by the league, prompting Bills fans to start a GoFundMe campaign to help him cover the cost.
In 2020, Ford entered the season as the Bills’ starting right guard before shifting to left guard in Week 3 in place of Quinton Spain. He started the next four games at left guard but missed time later in the year. Prior to Week 12, he tore his meniscus in practice and was placed on injured reserve on November 28, ending his 2020 campaign. He returned to the Bills in 2021 as the team continued its run as an AFC contender.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2022)
On August 22, 2022, the Buffalo Bills traded Ford to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick. The move gave Ford an opportunity to compete for a starting role on a new offensive line. Early in the regular season, however, he injured his ankle in practice and was placed on injured reserve on September 10, 2022.
Ford was activated by the Cardinals on October 20, 2022, and finished out the season in Arizona. His time with the Cardinals was brief, but it gave him a fresh start in a different offensive system. By the end of the 2022 campaign, he was preparing to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2023–Present)
On March 16, 2023, Ford signed a one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. He made the initial 53-man roster and worked as the backup left guard behind Cordell Volson. Ford made his first start for Cincinnati in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, showing his versatility along the offensive line.
On March 9, 2024, Ford signed a one-year contract extension to remain in Cincinnati. He was again named a backup but started nine games as an injury fill-in at both tackle and guard. On March 10, 2025, Ford signed a two-year contract extension with the Bengals, solidifying his role on the roster. In a December 28, 2025, victory over the Arizona Cardinals, played on his 29th birthday, Ford recorded his first career reception, a 21-yard catch from quarterback Joe Burrow.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Ford’s career came during the 2019 AFC Wild Card game, when his overtime penalty against the Houston Texans became one of the more talked-about officiating decisions of that postseason. The subsequent fan-led GoFundMe effort underscored how closely his story was tied to the Buffalo fan base. More recently, his first NFL reception on his birthday in 2025 marked a memorable milestone in his Bengals tenure.
Cody Ford Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, Ford has built a resume that includes a Joe Moore Award-winning season at Oklahoma, a third-team All-American selection in 2018, and a first-team All-Big 12 honor the same year. He was a second-round draft pick in 2019 and has appeared in 95 NFL games with 42 starts through Week 14 of the 2025 season, contributing at both guard and tackle for three different franchises.
Cody Ford Family
Personal Life
Ford was in a relationship with TikTok personality Tianna Robillard, and the couple became engaged in April 2024. In June 2024, Ford and Robillard announced that they had called off their engagement, with Robillard sharing a public video addressing the split. Following the breakup, the two removed photos of each other from their respective social media accounts. Ford is currently single, according to publicly available information.
2025 Season Performance
Ford’s 2025 season with the Cincinnati Bengals has been defined by stability and versatility. After signing a two-year contract extension in March, he served as a key depth piece along an offensive line that leaned on his ability to play both tackle and guard. With injuries testing the Bengals’ front, Ford continued to step into starting roles when needed while remaining a reliable backup option.
A highlight of the season came on December 28, 2025, when Ford caught his first career pass, a 21-yard reception from Joe Burrow in a victory over the Arizona Cardinals on his 29th birthday. The play added a memorable moment to his season and reflected the creative ways Cincinnati has used his athleticism. Heading into the latter part of the year, Ford remains an important part of the Bengals’ offensive line rotation.
