Mike Gesicki, a football player known for his time as a tight end with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, is aiming to restore his reputation as he establishes himself with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Despite a noticeable decrease in performance over the last two years, the determined Gesicki, aged 29, still has full faith in himself that he can bounce back, and what’s more, he’s looking forward to teaming up with Joe Burrow.
“New team, new staff, new quarterback. Everything is new for me,” Gesicki says. “So I have to go out there and earn the trust. It’s more proving what I’m capable of doing and earning more and more opportunities once the football starts. “It’s only April. A long way to go.”
Ex-Dolphins, Patriots TE Mike Gesicki looks for turnaround with Bengals: "It's more proving what I'm capable of doing and earning more and more opportunities once the football starts."https://t.co/hswQb8nHP1 pic.twitter.com/ahGkU5RtQZ
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 10, 2024
His presence adds a new dimension to Burrow’s potent passing game, opines the tight ends coach, James Casey.
“It gives you flexibility when you feel like you have an above-average pass catcher at tight end,” Casey says. “You can put him in some receiving roles, too. You know Mike can do some of that stuff.
“Over the last five years I’ve seen him run across the field and make explosive plays. Go across the field, like on a crossing route, and he’s got enough speed and size to be able to separate and make those catches. Obviously, he can also go down the seam and his red-zone stuff is impressive.”
Back in 2018, when Gesicki first entered the NFL, it was the Dolphins that saw potential in him. Over a five-year stint with the team, the 6-foot-6 tight end led in 31 games.
Gesicki had over 700 receiving yards twice during his career. Additionally, he delivered an outstandingly impressive performance in 2021 when he achieved a career high with 73 receptions, securing a fifth place among the league’s highly-competitive tight ends.
Despite his early success, Gesicki experienced a heart-rending slump in his scoring rate.
His final season at Miami saw him score 32 catches for 362 yards before moving to New England.
There, he managed only 29 catches for 244 yards within a struggling 31st-ranked offensive team.
