2025 Make-or-Break Bengals: Special Teams Unit

In a bit of a twist on our series, we highlight an entire unit as one that needs to step up in 2025 for the Bengals to take the next step.

A Bengals Offseason Tradition

We have a bit of an annual tradition that kicks off around this time of year. Once the first waves of free agency and the NFL Draft are in the rearview mirror, we turn our attention to identifying which Bengals players might be poised to take that all-important next step in their careers.

Spotlight Series: “Potential Bengals Breakout Players”

Here at Cincy Jungle and on our associated podcasts, we launch a recurring series each offseason titled “Potential Bengals Breakout Players.” It’s our way of forecasting which players could step into larger roles, show significant growth from the previous season, or otherwise emerge as key contributors in the upcoming year.

This isn’t just guesswork. It’s based on their likely increased responsibilities, glimpses of talent, and how they’ve been developing behind the scenes.

Introducing: “Make-or-Break Year”

Building off that tradition, we’re rolling out a new companion series: “Make-or-Break Year.” This series spotlights Cincinnati Bengals players who are entering pivotal stretches in their careers—those who need to prove themselves now or risk fading from the team’s long-term plans.

These are players (or units, in this regard) at a crossroads. Whether it’s due to inconsistent performance, off-field concerns, or simply needing to show growth, the next few months could be career-defining.

Special Teams’ Recent Background

Since his near-concurrent hiring with Marvin Lewis back in 2003, Darrin Simmons has been one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NFL. Though Cincinnati’s special teams unit has seen its dips, Simmons has overseen Pro Bowl campaigns from kickers and returners, while also turning otherwise cast-off players into valuable contributors for the Bengals.

Simmons has parlayed those performances into promotional interviews, but he’s remained with the Bengals for over two decades. While Simmons has routinely spearheaded a solid unit, that’s not to say there haven’t been missteps.

Opting for Randy Bullock over Jake Elliott aside, Cincinnati’s special teams unit had odd dichotomies last year. Newcomer Ryan Rehkow was outstanding as a punter, and there were glimpses of electricity in the return game, but the field goal unit was off.

Evan “Money Mac” McPherson battled a groin injury and saw his usual 80s-ish percentile kicking accuracy dip below 73% last season. Injury aside, McPherson was working with a new holder and a relatively new long snapper in Cal Adomitis.

Excuses aside, the seemingly automatic nature of hitting long field goals when the Bengals’ offense sputtered was less frequent in 2024. Cade York filled in admirably after McPherson went on I.R., but the loss of “Money Mac Magic” from 2021–23 was felt.

In the return game, Charlie Jones had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and contributed on punt returns, but he also landed on I.R. Jermaine Burton had a few other nice moments in relief, but questions remain about both players for different reasons.

If the Bengals’ offense maintains its potency and the defense takes a step forward under Al Golden, the special teams unit will need to regain its solid footing to help propel the Bengals into—and through—the postseason.

What the Special Teams Unit Needs to Prove in 2025

In short, McPherson needs to get back to form. Whether it was the injury, inconsistencies with the “battery” of snapper/holder/kicker, or other factors, the Bengals need more consistency from their kicking game in 2025.

McPherson was heroic during his historic run through the 2021 postseason, but he’s also become a bit of his own worst enemy. Those ridiculous (and largely unreachable) expectations have followed him throughout his career, and every long miss unfairly garners doubt.

Aside from McPherson, Cincinnati needs to find stability in the return game. As mentioned earlier, Jones has provided sparks, but his inability to stay healthy has hindered consistency. Burton has similar explosiveness, but he has a lot of trust to earn this offseason.

Rehkow was a bright spot last year, and he needs to carry that momentum into 2025 to prove he is a consistent field-position weapon. He’ll also need to continue building cadence and trust with both Adomitis and McPherson on field goal attempts.

All of this nitpicking might be for naught, as a healthy McPherson could be the cure-all for a unit with fluctuating levels of trustworthiness. Still, we know Simmons has influence on the back end of certain roster spots, so we may see some new faces on his unit this year.