Dalton Risner celebrates staying in Cincinnati in the perfect way after signing new contract with Bengals
Dalton Risner is embracing the city he’s grown to adore.
Dalton Risner is staying with the Cincinnati Bengals through the 2026 season; another 12 months working in the Queen City thanks to a one-year contract extension.
That calls for a celebration, and like any good Cincinnati resident would do to honor a wonderful occasion, Risner told his followers on X/Twitter he indulged in a cheese coney at Skyline Chili.
There will be plenty more of those thanks to the $5 million Risner can earn this year with the Bengals. It’s the largest contract Risner has signed as a veteran NFL player, and devouring cheese coneys is just a small part of why the 30-year old starting guard wanted to stay in Cincinnati.
Dalton Risner genuinely loves the Cincinnati Bengals
Risner hasn’t had this kind of moment in a long time. He’s hit free agency multiple times since his rookie contract with the Denver Broncos expired in 2023, signing new deals in September, May, and August in the years that have followed. To sign an extension on the second day of March, clearing the way for a full offseason of clarity and stability, is what he wanted all along.
“After the season I told everyone this is where I wanted to be,” Risner said Monday morning to local media members. “So when it came to this process, of course, it did take a little bit of time. The Bengals and myself, I think, were proactive in getting this deal done ever since the season ended. But it got to a point for me where I started putting pressure on, I got one of the best agents in the world in Drew Rosenhaus, but I truly did mean what I said. I didn’t really care to hit free agency and see if someone wanted to sign me to a two or three year deal, or maybe pay me more cash per year. I wanted to be a Cincinnati Bengal. And it got to a point where we were so close in terms that it was time to get a deal done.
“The Bengals did a lot of compromising, and I did a lot of compromising, and we came to a middle point, to a middle ground to sign the deal. And I was so thankful for that.”
Risner spoke for about 20 minutes after putting pen-to-paper on his new deal. The undeniable theme from the presser? He truly loves the organization he’s agreeing to stay with one week ahead of free agency.
“This process was just so much different, because I’ve never felt this way about an organization,” Risner said. “I’ve never truly just wanted to be back and not even test my market, and I’m at the point in my career where this is where I’m going to be my best, with [offensive line coach] Scott Peters, and Joe Burrow, and Ted Karras, and Amarius Mims, and I didn’t really care about the logistics side of it. This is what I want to be.”
The Bengals are Risner’s third NFL team, and second to give him a second contract, but entering his eighth-year in the league, he feels a different way about Cincinnati thanks to some a couple integral teammates.
Joe Burrow, Ted Karras credited for Risner’s desire to stay
With Risner being arguably the most important player the Bengals needed to retain prior to free agency, quarterback Joe Burrow made sure to keep tabs on the most recent addition to the starting line. Risner said his QB checked in on him multiple times during the offseason regarding contract negotiations.
“He’s, from day one, showed his support for me and voiced his opinion on the football player that he thinks I am,” Risner said of Burrow. “And that motivates me, that makes me want to be better. And when I see him in the way he plays and the way he fights for every yard and the competitiveness he brings, man, it just makes you want to go to work even more. So I want to I want to keep that dude healthy. I want to go win some serious football games this year. I want to be part of an offensive line that can really help this team get to where we want to go.
“So mad respect for Joe. Can’t wait to see him give him a big hug. We’ll see if he hugs me back.”
Risner will block for Burrow like he did for most of last season and he’ll do it next to center Ted Karras, the soon-to-be 33-year old elder statesmen of the locker room. Risner said Karras was critical to him feeling welcomed and embraced by the team.
“I truly feel like I’ve never been seen or valued like I have here. And I think that started in the offensive line room, and that started with Ted Karras,” Risner said. “Ted Karras is Cincinnati Bengals, through and through. It’s crazy, I’ve never been a guy to look up to very many people. And I’ve truly always just said, like, Jesus is like, the only person I’ve ever, like, truly looked up to. But I look up to Ted in a lot of ways.
“Ted opened the door and put his arms wide open and said, like, we take you as you are, and it just it made it to where I could just come in here and be exactly what it was.”
Burrow and Karras are team captains for good reason, and you can thank both for helping the Bengals solidify their offensive line before the real madness of the offseason ensues.
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