Jacob Bayer

Jacob Bayer (born December 12, 2002) is an American professional football center for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Lamar Cardinals and Arkansas State Red Wolves and was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2025.

Early life Bayer is from Grandview, Texas. He attended Grandview High School where he played as an offensive lineman and was named first-team all-county and all-state. He helped them win a state championship in 2019 and was also an academic all-district selection.

College career Bayer started all 11 games for Lamar as a freshman in 2021, playing center. With the Red Wolves in 2023, he started 12 games at center and was named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference (SBC). He became the first All-SBC offensive lineman at Arkansas State since 2018. He suffered a torn ACL during the spring practices in 2024, but was able to return to action by the second game of the season, marking one of the fastest full ACL tear recoveries in college football history. He started the final 12 games of the season and was named second-team All-SBC, as well as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy. In his last two years, Bayer helped the Red Wolves to two bowl game appearances.

Professional career

Buffalo Bills On May 9, 2025, Bayer signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent after going unselected in the 2025 NFL draft.

Cincinnati Bengals On November 3, 2025, Bayer was signed to the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with Cincinnati on January 5, 2026.