Olympic Wrestler Tries Out for Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals brought Olympic heavyweight wrestler Mason Parris in for a workout on September 2, 2024, shortly before the NFL regular season began. It was a tryout, not an announced signing, and he was not announced as a Bengals signing.
A short crossover tryout
The Bengals workout was reported after Parris competed for Team USA in freestyle wrestling at 125 kilograms at the Paris Olympics. He lost his opening bout to Mongolia’s Lkhagvagerel Munkhtur and did not advance. USA Wrestling’s Olympic recap lists Parris in 10th place.
According to the report on the Bengals workout, Parris took part in drills at linebacker and defensive end. The visit showed the team evaluating an elite athlete from another sport, but the report did not say he was offered a contract or added to the roster.
What wrestling could offer
Wrestling develops balance, leverage, hand fighting, and body control—skills that may transfer to blocking, tackling, or shedding blocks. A workout alone cannot establish how well those skills would translate to an NFL position, and the Bengals did not announce a signing or describe a longer-term plan for Parris.
Parris earned his Olympic place by winning the 2024 U.S. trials at 125 kilograms. His Olympic appearance and the Bengals visit were separate milestones in his career; the latter remained an evaluation rather than a change of sport.
Sources: Olympic profile, USA Wrestling’s Paris results, and Sports Illustrated’s Bengals report.
Sources
Tags: Wrestling
