Vance Received Warm Welcome at Bengals Practice, Source Says

A source with knowledge of Vice President JD Vance's visit to the Cincinnati Bengals told OutKick that the vice president was warmly received by the team, despite social media posts portraying him as ignored by players at a recent practice. The source said the online narrative does not reflect what actually happened that day.

A short video circulating online showed Vance and his family outside the team's locker room on Thursday as the players walked back in. The clip had no clear audio, and it showed Bengals tight end Drew Sample stopping to shake the vice president's hand while other players passed by. Initial reaction to the clip described the interaction as Vance being snubbed and ghosted by the team. One user on X wrote that Vance had attempted to greet players and was rebuffed by every player except one, while another said the players had given him the cold shoulder and that the team did not want to be used for political theater.

Footage obtained by OutKick, the source said, paints a different picture. It shows a handshake with an enthusiastic Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and includes audio that appears to capture Vance talking with players and staffers. According to the source, Vance and his son had a good time at practice, and defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence approached the vice president and held a conversation with him during the visit. A photo obtained by OutKick shows the vice president and his family playing catch on the field.

The source said the visit involved no planned media engagement. Vance toured the team's locker room, shook hands with several players, Taylor and others, and left with a football. It is unclear whether he brought the ball to be signed or whether the club gave it to him as a memento. Quarterback Joe Burrow told reporters earlier this week that he did not talk to Vance, saying the vice president came with the group and left quickly and efficiently before practice ended, so Burrow did not get the chance.

Vance, an Ohio native, is a longtime Bengals fan who grew up roughly an hour outside Cincinnati and maintains a home in the city's East Walnut Hills neighborhood. His visit to the area was tied to official and political business: he delivered a speech at the FBI's Cincinnati Field Office and later held a campaign rally at the Sharonville Convention Center.

Football fixtures & results

5Views

Author

Delaney Sawyer

Society Reporter

Delaney Sawyer covers public affairs, politics, business, culture and daily news for Core Memo. The role focuses on verification, context, and clear explanations for readers.

All articles by this author