Linebacker Germaine Pratt is getting the fresh start he was looking for.
The Cincinnati Bengals have released him, giving him the chance to find a new team before the start of mandatory minicamps.
Pratt had asked for a trade earlier in the offseason after a challenging year for the Bengals’ defense.
This season ended with the team parting ways with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Even though Pratt led the team with 143 tackles, he also had 20 missed tackles, which hurt the defense in key moments.
Drafted in the third round in 2019, Pratt became a dependable starter over his six years in Cincinnati.
But with a new coordinator coming in and his contract set to expire, he believed it was time for a change.
Instead of a trade, the Bengals chose to release him, saving about $5.85 million in salary cap space.
Germaine Pratt Shares Two Kids With His Wife, Kena
Now 29, Pratt heads into free agency as one of the NFL’s top tacklers from last season.
With his experience and production, he’s expected to draw interest from several teams, possibly even from former coaches who know his strengths well.
Cincinnati bengals player Germaine Pratt and his wife Kena pic.twitter.com/dJKFW96Wmq
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Similarly, off the field, Pratt has the full support of his wife, Kena, and their two young children- a son named Kylan Germaine Pratt and a daughter named Kynlee.
He and his wife don’t often post on social media. In one of their rare TikTok moments, she shared that he is a good listener while she is the talkative one in their relationship.
Kena is the founder of TwoSeven Hair Extensions.
She is active on TikTok, where she shares glimpses of her family life, such as cheering Germaine on at games, filming sweet moments of him playing baseball with their son, and creating fun, relatable “NFL wife” content that resonates with fans.
The couple welcomed their son, Kylan Germaine Pratt, on March 2, 2020.
@eazidusit_ My baby started tball and we def have to practice 😂😂 #fyp #tballmom #funnyvideos ♬ I Can – Nas
That year, Germaine celebrated his first Father’s Day in 2020 after the birth of his son, Kylan, and has since fully embraced the role of fatherhood.
He considered it the most meaningful and rewarding part of his life, and he’s committed to being a present and positive role model both on and off the field.
nothing I’ve ever done has given me more joy and reward than being a father.”
Germaine Pratt
Similarly, in 2023, Germaine Pratt’s mother, Shemeka Bland, shared how proud she is of the man he has become, especially as a devoted father of two.
Aware of how busy his life is balancing football and family, she hoped to organize a small celebration with his brothers and the grandkids.
She described him as a humble and grounded person, someone the whole family looks up to and celebrates.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Pratt played football for High Point Central High School in High Point, North Carolina.
- In 2021, Pratt was once again named a starting linebacker for the 2021 season alongside Logan Wilson.
- Pratt started all 17 games for Cincinnati during the 2024 campaign, recording 2 interceptions, 6 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.
