Cincinnati Bengals Coach Zac Taylor to Dramatically Reduce Training Camp ‘Nap Time’

Cincinnati, OH — Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson strolls over to his cubby space, grabs a large orange and black tiger-striped beach towel, and spreads it on the floor in front of his pillow and sprawls out on it before melting into a light slumber. For the past six years, this scene has played out daily during Bengals training camp under head coach Zac Taylor. But in 2025, things will be a little different

The Bengals' 2024 season finished strong but ultimately fell short of a playoff berth. Head Coach Zac Taylor knows that if Cincinnati is to rise above the ultra-competitive AFC North next season, the team must start faster. Something has to change and Taylor is on the record that he will leave no stone unturned.

In a move that has already raised eyebrows and caught the attention of the NFL community, Taylor announced on Monday that he plans to overhaul the Bengals' training camp schedule for 2025—specifically cutting training camp nap times in half by 15 minutes.

Taylor, in what he’s calling “doing things the right way,” revealed that the usual 30-minute nap break during training camp's designated on-field practice time will be reduced to just 15 minutes. His goal: help his players feel rested but also prepared to play at peak performance earlier in the NFL season.

"I hear the criticism," Taylor said during a press conference Thursday. "I do things differently than Coach Reid (a reference to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid). I’m not going to run long, exhausting drives just to make sure our guys are physically ready and know how to play. I'm more concerned about making sure the players are in a good mood when they're at camp."

Taylor continued, “Some people say I’m too laid-back, but what’s the point of tiring them out in early August when we need them to start winning in November? We need to change the narrative. I want our guys clicking on all cylinders when it counts—Weeks 10, 11, and beyond."

Taylor, whose player-voted-on-and-democratically-approved approach to training camp has often been compared unfavorably to the grueling methods of coaches like Reid, isn’t letting the criticism influence his decisions. Over the past few years, the Bengals have shown flashes of brilliance but have often struggled to start the season, putting them at a disadvantage heading into the back half of the year.

Bengals players at training camp bright-eyed and bushy-tailed fresh after a 30-minute nap time.

"People say we don’t have the ‘fire’ that some of the other teams have. Maybe they’re right," Taylor said during media availability on Wednesday.

“I thought he was going to continue his statement,” said sports journalist Paul Dehner Jr. on his Erotically Charged House Flags podcast this week. “I kept waiting for him to say ‘but’ or ‘however’... No, he just stopped talking and headed straight for the bathroom. Super weird, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt cause maybe he just had to go.” Dehner postulated.

Trey Hendrickson’s Take: "I Like Nap Time"

While some players and fans may find having a nap time in training camp unconventional, star defensive end Trey Hendrickson says he thinks it's a good thing. Hendrickson, who just won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors and has become one of the league’s most formidable pass rushers, is in favor of keeping "nap time" as long a duration as possible.

"I like nap time," Hendrickson lamented when asked about the change. "Jesus told me he likes it too. Ultimately it’s not our call, it’s Zac’s. I believe in Jesus and Zac.”

Hendrickson then recounted a touching moment during this year’s training camp nap time: "One day, I just woke up from a super refreshing 20-minute blackout and looked over at the next towel. There was Amarius [Mims] snoring like a wet fart and squashing DJ [Turner] against his chest like he was snuggling a little teddy bear. It was f*cking adorable."

A New Era for the Bengals?

Taylor’s unorthodox approach to training camp has raised a lot of questions about whether reducing nap time is the key to the Bengals reclaiming their status as a top AFC contender. Under Taylor, the team has reached the AFC Championship in back-to-back seasons, but early-season inconsistencies have plagued them. Too often, the Bengals have found themselves playing catch-up as the season progresses.

Despite some uncertainty, the Bengals’ players seem to be buying into the plan. Quarterback Joe Burrow, who has helped lead the team to the playoffs multiple times, has embraced Taylor’s vision and is optimistic about the shorter training camp schedule. “I trust Zac," Burrow said. “He’s shown that he knows how to get us playing our best when we no longer have any choice, and if this helps us start fast and stay fresh, then I’m all in.”

Burrow also offered a glimpse into his own approach to "nap time," revealing he doesn’t typically sleep during the break but uses the time to mentally replay game scenarios. "I’m not really a nap guy, but Zac says we don’t have to sleep. He just wants us to close our eyes. I use it to replay my last 50 snaps in my head in 8k ultra high-definition and to categorize all the defensive rotations that have ever been used throughout history. That typically takes about 10 minutes so I think I'll be good."

Fans of the Bengals, though cautiously optimistic, remain intrigued by Taylor’s bold move. The team has struggled with fast starts for years, and perhaps this fresh approach to training camp will give them the jump they need. As Taylor prepares to implement his new strategy, all eyes will be on Cincinnati come the first week of the 2025 season.

"Only time will tell if cutting naps in half pays off," Taylor concluded. "But one thing’s for sure: nobody’s going to have an excuse to be overly grumpy on the practice field."