Geno Stone Bio
Geno Stone (born April 19, 1999) is an American professional football safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing around 210 pounds, Stone has built his career on ball-hawking instincts and steady tackling.
After beginning his NFL journey in Baltimore, Stone spent a brief stint with the Houston Texans before returning to the Ravens, where he developed into a full-time starter. He later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024 and joined the Buffalo Bills in 2026, continuing his role as a reliable defensive back across multiple contending rosters.
Early Life and Background
Geno Stone was born on April 19, 1999, in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the same small Pennsylvania city and attended New Castle Junior/Senior High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. Beyond football, he also participated in basketball and track and field, showing the kind of competitive drive that would later define his professional career.
As a high school senior, Stone starred on the gridiron, lining up at wide receiver, quarterback, and defensive back. That season he was named first-team All-State after recording 97 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and 10 interceptions. Rated as a 2-star recruit, he initially committed to Kent State over offers from Ball State, Buffalo, Delaware, and Miami (Ohio), before flipping his commitment to Iowa after receiving a late offer from the Hawkeyes.
Path to Professional Football
Stone arrived at the University of Iowa in 2017 and immediately contributed as a true freshman. He played in all 13 games for the Hawkeyes that season, appearing mostly on special teams while finishing with 17 tackles and one interception. His early production hinted at the ball skills that would become a hallmark of his game.
By his sophomore year, Stone had earned a starting role. He recorded 39 tackles, a forced fumble, three passes broken up, and four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten Conference recognition. As a junior in 2019, he delivered an even stronger campaign with 70 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, four passes broken up, three forced fumbles, one interception, and one fumble recovery, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. Following that breakout season, Stone declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, forgoing his senior year of eligibility. Analysts viewed him as a late-round sleeper, with some projecting him as early as the third round.
Geno Stone Career
Early Career (2020)
The Baltimore Ravens selected Stone in the seventh round, 219th overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft, making him the 19th safety drafted that year. He signed a four-year, $3.40 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $107,155. Entering training camp, he competed for a backup safety role behind DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark.
His rookie season proved turbulent. Stone appeared in only two games with Baltimore, was waived in early October, re-signed to the practice squad, promoted to the active roster in mid-November, and waived again at season’s end. On December 29, 2020, the Houston Texans claimed him off waivers, though his time in Houston was brief and limited to special teams duty.
Baltimore Ravens Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Stone returned to Baltimore on March 23, 2021, signing a one-year, $780,000 contract. He began the season as a backup safety listed fifth on the depth chart, but injuries ahead of him opened the door for increased playing time. On December 19, 2021, he earned his first career start and posted a season-high seven combined tackles in a narrow loss to the Green Bay Packers. The following week, he recorded his first career interception, picking off a pass from Ben Roethlisberger in an overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2022, Stone earned a more prominent role after an injury to starting free safety Marcus Williams thrust him into the starting lineup. He delivered a season-high eight solo tackles in a victory over the Cleveland Browns on October 28, 2022, and finished the year with 38 total tackles, one pass defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. In 2023, Stone blossomed into one of the league’s most productive ball-hawking safeties. After another Williams injury, he was elevated to starting free safety and made the most of the opportunity, intercepting seven passes during the regular season, tied for the second-most in the NFL that year behind DaRon Bland of the Dallas Cowboys. He recorded a career-high nine combined tackles against the Cincinnati Bengals and added interceptions against quarterbacks including Joe Burrow, Ryan Tannehill, Jared Goff, Joshua Dobbs, Geno Smith, and Tua Tagovailoa.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2024-2025)
On March 11, 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Stone to a two-year, $14 million contract that included $6 million guaranteed and a $3 million signing bonus. Head coach Zac Taylor quickly installed him alongside Vonn Bell as a starting safety. Stone started 17 games during the 2024 season and tallied 81 combined tackles, six pass deflections, four interceptions, and his first career touchdown, a 39-yard interception return against the Tennessee Titans. He strung together three straight games with an interception late in the season, including a pick-six of Will Levis and an interception of Cooper Rush in a win at the Dallas Cowboys.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stone plays the safety position with sharp instincts and reliable open-field tackling. His strengths include reading quarterbacks’ eyes, breaking on routes, and finishing with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by his seven interceptions in 2023 and a defensive touchdown in 2024. He has shown consistency against both the run and the pass and has produced game-changing plays in crucial moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Stone’s 2023 season stands as his signature campaign, finishing with seven interceptions, the second-most in the NFL that year. He posted his first career touchdown in December 2024 against the Tennessee Titans and logged his first multi-interception games late in the 2024 regular season. His rise from seventh-round pick to multi-year starter underscores his reputation as one of the league’s notable overachievers at the safety position.
Geno Stone Career Wins
Across his NFL career through the 2025 season, Geno Stone has compiled 312 total tackles, 14 interceptions, 21 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 defensive touchdowns, per official league statistics. His most productive season came in 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens, when he set a career high with seven interceptions.
Interceptions and Big Plays
Stone recorded his first career interception on January 9, 2022, off a pass from Ben Roethlisberger in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He tied for the league lead in 2023 with seven interceptions, including picks off six different quarterbacks across the season. In 2024 with the Bengals, he added four more interceptions, highlighted by a 39-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans on December 15, 2024.
Other Performances
Beyond interceptions, Stone has produced strong tackling numbers and reliable coverage across multiple schemes. He finished the 2021 season with 21 combined tackles and one interception in 15 games, then improved to 38 total tackles in 2022. His 81 combined tackles in 2024 represented a career high and reinforced his durability as an every-down safety.
Geno Stone Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Geno Stone’s family background is limited. He grew up in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and developed his athletic foundation in that community before moving on to collegiate and professional football.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Geno Stone was under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals through 2026 after signing a two-year, $14 million deal in March 2024. He was slated to start alongside Vonn Bell and was expected to provide leadership in the Bengals’ secondary after a productive 2024 campaign that included four interceptions and a defensive touchdown.
Stone carried momentum from the closing stretch of 2024, when he posted three straight games with an interception. The Bengals leaned on his ball-hawking skills and tackling reliability as they pushed for a return to postseason contention in a competitive AFC North.
By season’s end, Stone remained a core piece of Cincinnati’s defensive backfield, with his versatility against the run and pass providing stability for the defense. His continued interception production and steady tackling kept him firmly in the conversation as one of the more dependable safeties in the AFC heading into the final year of his Bengals contract.
