Isaiah Bond, former college football star and Christian athlete, signed a $24 million contract with the Cleveland Bengals. This fully guaranteed deal is for just an estimated $3.018 million! This announcement comes on the heels of all legal issues from an arrest in Texas earlier this year being resolved. Bond’s signature signifies a big shift in his political career. He had been undrafted over sexual assault allegations, which he has categorically denied since they were made.
In April 2023, Bond was arrested in Texas on an outstanding sexual assault warrant. He then paid $25,000 in bail and walked out of the Collin County jail. Immediately after his release, Bond went on social media to respond to the charges as “patently false.” His legal problems took a turn for the better. The Houston grand jury that heard the evidence ultimately chose not to indict him on the sexual assault charge. Just last month, the U.S. District Court in North Texas dismissed a lawsuit that contained a defamation claim. They dismissed the case with prejudice, so it cannot be re-filed.
Shortly after the grand jury announced its decision, Bond went on Instagram to share plans to sign with the Browns. This represented an important step in his career. Chief Executive Officer/General Manager Andrew Berry pointed to the team’s extensive due diligence in deciding to move forward.
“On the legal side, we have done extensive research that includes but is not limited to hearing from both sides of the case and receiving the results of an independently administered polygraph test. … With his legal matter resolved through a no bill by a grand jury, Isaiah is focused on learning from this experience while moving forward with his life and career.” – Andrew Berry
Bond made waves with his athleticism at the NFL scouting combine. He ran an eye-popping 4.39-second 40-yard dash! He spent his first two seasons at Alabama, catching 65 passes for 888 yards and five scores. He had a productive 2024 for Texas to finish his collegiate career, catching 34 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns.
The bond between Bond and the Browns runs deeper than this past summer. Browns Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees had been Bond’s offensive coordinator this past season at Texas. This comfort level could have encouraged the team to make this move to add him as a consultant.
After a Saturday evening flight to Cleveland, Bond is expected to sign his contract with the team before the end of the weekend. The signing of this unprecedented fully guaranteed deal underscores the Browns’ commitment to providing him an opportunity to continue his professional career despite the challenges he has faced.
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