Vonn Bell

Vonn Bell Bio

Vonn Christian Bell is an American professional football safety whose NFL career began in 2016 after a standout college tenure at Ohio State University. Selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, Bell has built a reputation as a versatile and physical defender across multiple franchises. Over the years, he has worn the uniforms of the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, and Carolina Panthers, contributing as both a starter and a key rotational player. His accolades include a College Football Playoff national championship and First-team All-American honors from his 2015 season with the Buckeyes.

Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing around 210 pounds, Bell is widely respected for his instincts in run support and his ability to play in multiple defensive packages. After his playing career concluded, Bell transitioned into coaching when he was hired as the safeties coach for the Colorado Buffaloes under head coach Deion Sanders in March 2026.

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 recognition for his play on the field. Bell later transferred to Ridgeland High School in Rossville, Georgia, where he continued to develop into one of the top defensive prospects in the country.

In his senior season at Ridgeland, Bell led his team to the Georgia Class AAAA state championship game, although they fell to Sandy Creek by a score of 41 to 10. His performance at Ridgeland drew national attention and made him one of the most sought-after recruits in the 2013 class. Major recruiting outlets, including Rivals.com and Scout.com, rated him as a five-star recruit and ranked him as the number two safety in the nation.

ESPN rated Bell as a high four-star recruit and the 50th best player overall regardless of position, while 247Sports also listed him as a five-star prospect. He was selected to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game, a marquee showcase for top high school talent. On February 6, 2013, Bell announced his commitment to Ohio State University, choosing the Buckeyes over a long list of scholarship offers.

Path to Professional Football

Bell enrolled at Ohio State in 2013 and immediately contributed to the Buckeyes defense as a true freshman. He appeared in all 13 games as a backup that season and made his first collegiate start in the Discover Orange Bowl on January 3, 2014, where he also recorded his first interception. His performance during that freshman year signaled his potential to become a full-time starter.

During his sophomore campaign in 2014, Bell earned a full-time starting role and appeared in all 15 games for the Buckeyes. He recorded 91 tackles and led the Big Ten Conference with six interceptions, establishing himself as one of the top defensive playmakers in college football. His junior season in 2015 culminated in a national championship, as Bell helped Ohio State defeat Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Following the title run, Bell declared for the 2016 NFL draft. He attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis but opted to skip drills due to a hamstring injury, choosing instead to meet with team representatives. At Ohio State’s pro day on March 11, 2016, he completed testing in the 40-yard dash, 20-yard dash, 10-yard dash, and vertical jump for scouts.

Vonn Bell Career

New Orleans Saints (2016 to 2019)

The New Orleans Saints traded up to select Bell with the 61st overall pick in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. To acquire that selection, New Orleans sent their 2016 third-round and fourth-round picks to the New England Patriots. On May 10, 2016, Bell signed a four-year, $3.97 million rookie contract that included a signing bonus of $1.08 million.

As a rookie in 2016, Bell played in all 16 games and made 14 starts, finishing with 87 combined tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one sack. He opened the season as a backup before earning a starting role as a nickelback, and he later took over the free safety job for a brief stretch. His first NFL sack came on a shared takedown of Colin Kaepernick during a Week 9 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

In his second and third seasons, Bell continued to grow into a versatile piece of the Saints secondary, starting games at safety and nickelback. He recorded 83 combined tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2017, helping New Orleans finish atop the NFC South with an 11-5 record. In January 2018, Bell started his first NFL playoff game against the Carolina Panthers, recording nine tackles and a sack of Cam Newton in a Wild Card win.

By 2019, Bell had become the full-time starting strong safety and delivered one of his most productive seasons, recording 89 combined tackles, five pass deflections, one interception, and a career-high five fumble recoveries. He also scored his first career touchdown on a 33-yard fumble return against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. A knee injury late in the season caused him to miss the final three games of the year.

Cincinnati Bengals (2020 to 2022)

On March 26, 2020, Bell signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, including a $3 million signing bonus. Head coach Zac Taylor quickly named him the starting strong safety alongside free safety Jessie Bates. Bell started all 16 games in 2020 and recorded 100 combined tackles, five pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

In 2021, Bell continued as a starter and finished the regular season with 97 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, one interception, and half a sack. He helped Cincinnati win the AFC North with a 10-7 record and advance through the playoffs. During the AFC Championship Game at Kansas City, Bell intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass in overtime to seal a 27-24 win that sent the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI.

Bell started Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams and made seven combined tackles, though Cincinnati fell short by a 23-20 score. In 2022, he started all 16 games for the Bengals and set a career high with four interceptions, including two off passes by Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater in a single game against the Miami Dolphins. He finished that final Bengals season with 77 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one sack.

Carolina Panthers (2023)

On March 15, 2023, Bell signed a three-year, $22.50 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, including $13 million guaranteed and a $5.83 million signing bonus. Head coach Frank Reich named him a starting safety alongside Xavier Woods to open the season.

Bell started 13 games for Carolina in 2023, recording 69 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception. He picked off a pass by Derek Carr during a Week 2 loss to his former team, the New Orleans Saints, and suffered a quadriceps injury in Week 5 that caused him to miss three games. The Panthers released Bell on March 13, 2024.

Cincinnati Bengals Return (2024)

Just two days after his release from Carolina, Bell signed a one-year, $1.21 million contract to return to the Cincinnati Bengals on March 15, 2024. Head coach Zac Taylor reinstalled him as the starting strong safety alongside free safety Geno Stone. Bell opened the year with a season-high nine combined tackles in a Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders.

He also intercepted a pass in a Week 4 win over the Carolina Panthers, his former team. Prior to Week 13, however, Bell was demoted in favor of Jordan Battle and did not regain his starting role for the remainder of the season. He finished the 2024 campaign with 55 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception.

Driving Style and Strengths

Bell is best known for his physicality as a run-stopping safety and his ability to play downhill against the run game. He pairs strong tackling technique with the versatility to line up as a deep safety, box defender, or nickelback in sub-packages. Throughout his career, he has been praised for his football intelligence and willingness to support the run game aggressively from the secondary.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of the defining moments of Bell’s career came during the 2021 AFC Championship Game, when he intercepted Patrick Mahomes in overtime to help Cincinnati reach Super Bowl LVI. He also earned national championship recognition as a member of the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes, recorded his first NFL touchdown on a fumble return in 2019, and set a career high with four interceptions during the 2022 NFL season with the Bengals.

Vonn Bell Career Highlights

Vonn Bell has built a steady career as a starting-caliber safety across nearly a decade in the NFL. Across his time with the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, and Carolina Panthers, he has been a reliable tackler and a disruptive presence near the line of scrimmage. He earned national recognition in college as a First-team All-American and First-team All-Big Ten selection in 2015.

NFL Highlights

From 2016 through the 2024 NFL season, Bell has been a consistent contributor in the defensive backfield, amassing 760 total tackles, 39 pass deflections, 16 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries, 8 interceptions, and 9.5 sacks. His career-best tackle season came in 2020 with the Bengals, when he recorded 100 combined tackles. He has also contributed in the postseason, including a sack of Cam Newton in the 2017 NFC Wild Card Game and an interception of Patrick Mahomes in the 2021 AFC Championship Game.

Other Wins and Performances

As a college player, Bell earned All-American honors and helped Ohio State capture the College Football Playoff National Championship after the 2014 season. He was also selected to play in the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game following his senior year of high school.

Vonn Bell Family

Family Background and Personal Life

Bell’s older brother, Volonte Bell, served as an assistant coach at Chattanooga State Community College. Volonte Bell tragically died in a car accident on February 24, 2020, during Bell’s first season with the Cincinnati Bengals.

2025 Season Performance

Vonn Bell was not on an NFL roster for the 2025 season after completing his one-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024. Following his release by Carolina and his brief return to Cincinnati, Bell entered the 2025 calendar year as a free agent before ultimately being hired by the Colorado Buffaloes in March 2026 to begin his coaching career under Deion Sanders.

During the 2024 season, Bell finished with 55 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception, all while losing his starting strong safety role to Jordan Battle late in the year. His lone interception of the season came in a Week 4 victory over his former Carolina Panthers team. The late-season demotion signaled a transition in his role and opened the door to his eventual move into coaching.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season and beyond, Bell is now focused on his new role as safeties coach at Colorado rather than on-field production. His transition from player to coach marks the next chapter for a defender whose career spanned four teams and nearly a decade in the NFL.