New Broncos safety aims to be best ST player in the NFL
Not all players are willing to lay it on the line for Special Teams, but Anderson actually wants to.
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals safety Tycen Anderson (26) reacts against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Broncos’ new safety and special teams ace, Tycen Anderson, had big goals for his 2025 season in Cincinnati, the team where he was drafted in 2022. The problem was that with injuries — and playing behind star safeties like Jessie Bates III, Dax Hill, Vonn Bell and Jordan Battle — he couldn’t break into the starting lineup.
So he shifted his focus to getting on the field in whatever way possible and being great at it. “I want to be the best special teams player in the league,” Anderson told sports broadcaster Dan Hoard. “There are a lot of great dudes, and I want to be brought up in the discussion and push for an All-Pro season.
” The plan worked. Anderson played in 41 games for the Bengals since being drafted and appeared in each of Cincinnati’s last 34 games, playing at least 75 percent of the team’s special teams snaps in the last two seasons. The Toledo native recorded 16 special teams tackles last season, leading the Bengals in special teams stops in both 2023 (8) and 2024 (11).
And fun interesting fact — the Bengals don’t even get a comp pick for the trade. Over the Cap’s Nick Korte explained that the $1. 5 million contract details mean the Bengals won’t even benefit from losing Anderson wiht a compensatory pick.