When the Cincinnati Bengals signed edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million deal, they broke their franchise record for how much money they paid to an outside free agent. The $20 million per-season price tag shows the cost of a premium defensive position.
Their decision to throw the Brinks truck at Mafe was based on more than his 2026 season, though. In a recent episode of the Bengals’ Booth Podcast with Dan Hoard, defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery says senior defensive assistant Sean Desai had a large part to play in making sure Mafe would be a cultural fit as well.
“I think it was a group effort,” he said. “You know you got Al’s background, myself. Sean Desai was there when they drafted him, so there was a lot of insight into the individual and the kid, from a personality standpoint and a fit. So yeah, it was a group effort, and then those guys upstairs did the rest.”
Making sure a player is a cultural fit is a big deal. The last thing a team wants or needs is conflict in the locker room when things get tough. The insight Desai was able to provide was likely just as important to Zac Taylor, Duke Tobin, and Golden.
Desai completed his first season with the Bengals in 2025, serving as senior defensive assistant in his 13th NFL season. He previously spent 2024 with the LA Rams, where the defense improved significantly in the second half of the season, helping the team finish 10-7 and winning the NFC West. Before that, Desai held roles with the Eagles, Seahawks, and Bears, including serving as defensive coordinator for Chicago and Philadelphia, coaching multiple Pro Bowl players and top-10 defenses in the process.
Hopefully, his input helps Mafe fit in on the field and in the locker room in Cincinnati like a duck in water.
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