Russ Yeast Bio
Craig Russell Yeast II, known professionally as Russ Yeast, is an American football safety for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 ft 10 in and weighing around 195 lb, he has carved out a career as a reliable depth defender and special teams contributor since entering the league in 2022. Before joining Cincinnati, Yeast spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans, working his way across multiple practice squads and active rosters.
A Greenwood, Indiana, native who grew up in a deeply athletic family, Yeast played college football at Louisville before transferring to Kansas State, where his 2021 season earned him First-team All-Big 12 recognition. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he has continued to develop his game, building a reputation for toughness, versatility, and persistence through several roster moves.
Early Life and Background
Russ Yeast was born on May 8, 1999, in Danville, Kentucky, and later raised in the Indianapolis suburb of Greenwood, Indiana. He attended Center Grove High School, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete and began attracting attention from college football programs. His upbringing was steeped in athletics, with both parents having competed at the highest levels of collegiate sport.
His father, Craig Yeast, was a star wide receiver at the University of Kentucky and went on to play professionally in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League, giving Russ an early and direct connection to the professional game. His mother, Tori Tillman Yeast, played basketball at Kentucky, reinforcing a household that valued competitive sport and discipline. His sister, Kiyah, has continued that athletic tradition as a sprinter on the Louisville track team.
Path to American Football
Yeast committed to the University of Louisville, where he played college football from 2017 through 2020, appearing in the Cardinals secondary and gaining valuable experience against top-tier competition. After the 2020 season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal and chose to finish his college career at Kansas State, joining the Wildcats for the 2021 campaign.
His lone season at Kansas State proved to be his most productive. Yeast earned First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021, cementing his draft stock and positioning him as one of the more experienced safeties available in the 2022 NFL Draft class. That breakthrough year ultimately set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks.
Russ Yeast Career
Early Career (2022)
The Los Angeles Rams selected Russ Yeast in the seventh round, 253rd overall, of the 2022 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he worked primarily on special teams, learning the weekly rhythms of an NFL defense and contributing on coverage and return units. His steady play earned him a larger defensive role late in the year, and he made his first NFL start in the Rams’ season finale against the Seattle Seahawks on January 8, 2023.
That debut was cut short when Yeast left the game with a pulmonary contusion that required an overnight hospital stay in Seattle, a moment that tested his toughness early in his career. Despite the setback, he had shown enough versatility to remain firmly in the Rams’ plans heading into the following offseason.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2022-2024)
Heading into 2023, Yeast found himself in position for a larger role after the Rams lost safeties Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott in the offseason. He won the starting free safety job out of training camp and opened the season as a key piece of the Los Angeles secondary. By midseason, however, veteran John Johnson III had reclaimed the starting role, and Yeast settled back into a rotational and special teams role.
He entered 2024 fighting for a roster spot, ultimately making the Rams’ final cuts as a backup. The Rams waived him on September 14, 2024, beginning a whirlwind stretch that would take him across the league in search of an opportunity.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024)
On September 18, 2024, Yeast was signed to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, and within a week he was promoted to the active roster. The stint was short, as he was released on October 8 before being re-signed to the practice squad two days later. He returned to the active roster on October 26 but was released again shortly thereafter, reflecting the volatile nature of late-season roster moves.
Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans Era (2024-2025)
Yeast joined the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on November 6, 2024, though his time in Arizona was brief, as he was released on November 11. He landed again on November 27, signing with the Houston Texans’ practice squad, and later signed a reserve/future contract with Houston on January 21, 2025, securing a path into the next league year. On August 26, he was waived by the Texans as part of final roster cuts, ending his time in Houston.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2025-Present)
On August 28, 2025, Russ Yeast was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, quickly becoming a familiar presence on the unit. He signed a reserve/future contract with Cincinnati on January 5, 2026, locking in his place with the organization beyond the 2025 season. Wearing jersey number 39, he remains an active member of the Bengals roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Yeast is regarded as a versatile defensive back who thrives in sub-packages and on special teams, where his tackling and field awareness have stood out throughout his career. His experience playing both free safety and in the box has made him a flexible chess piece for defensive coordinators, and he has consistently earned praise for his preparation and football intelligence.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining early moments of Yeast’s career came in his Rams debut start against the Seattle Seahawks, when he was hospitalized overnight with a pulmonary contusion. His earning of First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2021 stands as a signature college achievement, while navigating four practice squad moves in a single 2024 season showcased his resilience and longevity in a competitive league.
Russ Yeast Career Wins
Russ Yeast’s professional resume is built more on durability, versatility, and special teams value than on headline-grabbing win totals. Across his stops with the Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Cincinnati Bengals, he has consistently provided depth and reliability, contributing on coverage units and in defensive rotations when called upon.
NFL Career Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Yeast has accumulated 82 total tackles and 5 pass deflections in his NFL career, numbers that reflect his role as a rotational safety and core special teams player. His first NFL start came in the 2022 season finale, and he has since added reserve/future contracts with both Houston and Cincinnati, signaling continued organizational trust in his development.
Other Wins & Performances
At the collegiate level, Yeast’s most decorated performance came during his 2021 season at Kansas State, where he earned First-team All-Big 12 recognition. That campaign remains the statistical high-water mark of his playing career and helped open the door to the NFL.
Russ Yeast Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Russ Yeast comes from one of the more accomplished athletic families in the region. His father, Craig Yeast, starred as a wide receiver at the University of Kentucky and went on to play professionally in the NFL and the Canadian Football League, providing Russ with a firsthand look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
His mother, Tori Tillman Yeast, played basketball at Kentucky, ensuring that competitive sports were a constant presence in the household. His sister, Kiyah, has continued the family’s athletic tradition as a sprinter on the Louisville track team.
Personal Life
Raised primarily in Greenwood, Indiana, Russ Yeast grew up in a sports-centered environment that helped shape his path toward collegiate and professional football. Details about his current personal relationships are not publicly confirmed in available records.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a fresh chapter for Russ Yeast, who signed with the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad on August 28, 2025, just days after being waived by the Houston Texans. His quick pickup reflected continued demand for his services as a depth safety and core special teams player, and he remained active on the Bengals unit throughout the campaign.
Yeast contributed to Cincinnati’s special teams units while developing within the team’s defensive scheme, continuing the role he has filled throughout his NFL career. On January 5, 2026, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Bengals, a clear vote of confidence from the organization and a sign that he is expected to compete for a roster spot in the 2026 offseason.