Howard Cross III

Not to be confused with Howard Cross.

Howard Edward Cross III (born July 31, 2001) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Howard Cross III

Cross talking to press ahead of the 2025 CFP National Championship.
No. 95 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(2001-07-31) July 31, 2001 (age 24) Paramus, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
High school:	Saint Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey)
College:	Notre Dame (2019–2024)
NFL draft:	2025: undrafted
Career history
Cincinnati Bengals (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Cross was born in Paramus, New Jersey^{[citation needed]} and attended Saint Joseph Regional High School, where he was a state-champion wrestler.^[1] He committed to play college football at the University of Notre Dame.^[2]

College career

As a freshman in 2019, Cross totaled seven tackles in four games.^[3] In the shortened 2020 season, he recorded 13 tackles.^[3] In week 12 of the 2021 season, Cross notched two sacks in a win over Georgia Tech.^[4] He finished the season with 22 tackles with 4.5 being for a loss, and three sacks.^[5]

In week 2 of the 2022 season, Cross recorded 11 tackles with half a tackle being for a loss in a loss to Marshall.^[6] He finished the season with 33 tackles with 2.5 going for a loss, two sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble.^[7] Cross earned the starting nose tackle spot ahead of the 2023 season.^[8] In week 5 of the 2023 season, he tallied 13 tackles with 3.5 going for a loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles in a win over Duke.^[9] Cross was named a midseason All-American, by ESPN after eight weeks of the 2023 season.^[10]

Statistics

Year	Team	Games		Tackles				Interceptions				Fumbles
		GP	GS	Total	Solo	Ast	Sack	PD	Int	Yds	TD	FF	FR	TD
2019	Notre Dame	4	0	7	3	4	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2020	Notre Dame	12	0	13	8	5	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2021	Notre Dame	12	2	22	13	9	3.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2022	Notre Dame	12	7	33	14	19	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0
2023	Notre Dame	13	13	66	28	38	2.0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0
2024	Notre Dame	13	13	28	14	14	4.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Career		66	35	169	80	89	11.0	4	0	0	0	3	0	0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 1+3⁄8 in (1.86 m)	285 lb (129 kg)	32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m)	10+1⁄2 in (0.27 m)	4.63 s	7.41 s	31.5 in (0.80 m)	8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)	24 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12][13]

On May 9, 2025, Cross signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent after going unselected in the 2025 NFL draft.^[14] Reuniting him with defensive coordinator Al Golden who was his defensive coordinator at Nortre Dame.

Personal life

Cross is the son of former New York Giants tight end Howard Cross.^[15] He has a twin sister, Bella.^[16]