The Buffalo Bills have added a new player to their defensive secondary, with former Iowa Hawkeye Geno Stone signing a one-year contract worth a reasonable $1.4 million. The influence of former All-Pro safety Micah Hyde, who remains an ambassador for his old team after retiring in 2024, played a crucial role in this acquisition.
Stone, who has started 36 consecutive games, was aided by Hyde”s endorsement during his free agency period. “My agent also represented Micah Hyde. That”s another person I was able to get information about the whole organization, but especially, he”s a fellow Hawkeye of mine,” Stone stated during a video conference introduction to the media.
The 2020 seventh-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens proved his worth during his tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he recorded 185 tackles over the last two seasons without missing a start. Stone, who turns 27 on April 19, had entered the NFL while Hyde was already in his fourth season with the Bills. Their connection through Iowa facilitated conversations between the two players during their careers.
“Even when he played here, I kind of asked about the organization and things like that,” Stone remarked, indicating that Hyde”s positive experiences resonated with him. “Just knowing what he did here. He came from Green Bay, came here and really pushed his career a lot longer. Just being here, being around all the guys and the kind of things they”ve done here,” Stone added.
Stone”s playing style mirrors aspects of Hyde”s approach, which suggests he could become a valuable asset for the Bills. “They”re gonna get a guy that”s gonna compete every day, a guy that”s gonna be in the right spots at the right time, and a leader. Now, I”m seven years in the league. I feel like I”ve been around a lot to know what it takes to be a pro in this league and what it takes to win,” he explained.
Hyde”s loyalty to the Bills Mafia remains strong. After spending eight seasons with the Bills, starting with the 2017 team that ended the franchise”s playoff drought, Hyde became a cornerstone for former head coach Sean McDermott. His bond with the Buffalo community is evident, as he expressed last year: “We say good night to our kids every night. We say, “I love you,” and they say, “Go Bills.” That”s where we”re at. We”re forever going to be Bills fans. We just love Western New York.”
With Stone now on the roster, the Bills look to bolster their defense further as they prepare for the upcoming season.
