Bengals use chess at camp to build cohesion

The Cincinnati Bengals have added chess to their training camp routine, using the board game as a structured way to strengthen team cohesion and improve how players communicate. The club is framing the initiative as part of a broader effort to correct recent shortcomings and push back into playoff contention after three straight seasons without a postseason appearance.

The idea began with center Ted Karras, who brought a chessboard into the offensive line’s new meeting space. Players set up the area with a table bought through an online marketplace, turning it into an informal hub where teammates could gather between football activities.

Chess spreads beyond the offensive line

What started as a small, position-room activity quickly expanded. Officials and players said the game drew in quarterback Joe Burrow and then reached additional position groups, making chess a shared reference point across the roster rather than a single-unit pastime.

Inside the building, players have come to treat the matches as a practical “read” on one another. The Bengals said chess is being used as a diagnostic tool that can reveal how teammates make decisions, how they communicate intentions, and how they hold composure when the pressure of a mistake is immediate and visible.

Players point to discipline and focus under pressure

On-field execution remains the priority, but the Bengals are also emphasizing the mental habits the game can reinforce during the grind of camp. The team views chess as one way to keep players engaged and focused while also encouraging camaraderie in a high-repetition environment.

Tight end Erick All Jr. highlighted the discipline chess demands, saying the need to think ahead and commit to calculated moves mirrors the analytical expectations of professional football. The Bengals presented that parallel as a reason the game resonates: it rewards preparation, forces patience, and exposes lapses in concentration.

More strategy games planned, with football still first Looking ahead, the Bengals said they plan to add other strategy games in the locker room on lighter practice days to provide varied mental challenges. At the same time, team management stressed that football preparation will continue to come first, particularly during high-intensity stretches of camp.

The program is being positioned as an unconventional, but controlled, supplement rather than a replacement for core work such as readiness, tactical development, and performance on the field. The Bengals said the overarching is a roster that is more cohesive and mentally sharp as it prepares for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, with an emphasis on collective understanding and resilience.