Cincinnati Bengals

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Bio

Shaka Heyward is a linebacker who joined Cincinnati as a college free agent in 2023 following a five-year tenure at Duke, where he recorded 340 tackles and 32.5 TFLs across 51 games and earned two All-ACC selections. After spending his entire rookie season on the Bengals' practice squad, Heyward has appeared in 18 games over the past two seasons. In 2025, he played in 12 games and recorded four defensive tackles and 12 special teams stops, including a career-high four ST tackles on September 29 at Denver. Entering his fourth season with Cincinnati, Heyward carries a one-year contract signed in January 2026.

Shaka Heyward played 12 games in 2025 with a 3% share of defensive snaps.

Player information

Contract

T-218 of 278 · LB market by AAV

Career path