Bengals TE Mike Gesicki let everyone know how revenge feels following his touchdown catch against the Dolphins
Mike Gesicki got his comeuppance when the Bengals defeated the Dolphins.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki caught his 24th career touchdown this past Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
Gesicki ran a seam route between the Dolphins’ Cover 2 defense, and made a leaping grab at the goal line to give the Bengals their sixth and final touchdown in a game they would win, 45-21.
The play didn’t necessarily help Cincinnati win the game, and it may not be remembered by fans in a lost season, but Gesicki will always remember this specific touchdown because of where it happened, and the team that allowed it.
Mike Gesicki achieves revenge over his former team
Long before Gesicki joined the Bengals in 2024 and signed a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension earlier this year, he was a second-round NFL Draft pick by the Dolphins in 2018. His best years came in 2020 and 2021 when he recorded a combined 126 receptions for 1,483 yards and eight touchdowns. The best part? He was scheduled to hit free agency in 2022 and was set up for a nice pay day.
Miami denied Gesicki that by placing the franchise tag on him in 2022. He was stuck on a one-year contract, and even worse, he was phased out of the offense that season. He had just 32 receptions for 362 yards and five touchdowns.
Gesicki’s drop-off in production led to a shallow free agency market in 2023. He signed a modest one-year, $4.5 million contract with the New England Patriots and his production fell even further, which also tanked his market in 2024 when he signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with Cincinnati.
Getting hit with the franchise tag set Gesicki back three years from the multi-year deal he first proved worthy of with Miami. The 30-year old did not forget when he put up six points on his former team’s own field.
After scoring the touchdown, Gesicki exclaimed, “I’ve been waiting for that for three years!” He also expressed gratitude to quarterback Joe Burrow for seeing him on the play.
Sunday was not going to change Cincinnati’s playoff fate, but it was an opportunity for Gesicki to exorcise some personal demons and get a little revenge against his former team. Consider his mission accomplished.