Former Michigan State football star LB Joe Bachie inks new NFL contract

One thing that we as Michigan State football fans are lucky to have is a lot of former Spartans playing and contributing at the professional level. You can probably think of many Spartans out there currently making a name for themselves in the pros, but one name that has maybe flown under the radar has been Joe Bachie.

Bachie was a standout linebacker on some elite Spartan defenses from 2016-19. No, Michigan State wasn't so great as a team during this stretch, but that wasn't due to poor defense. In fact, these were some of the best defenses Mark Dantonio ever had in his career.

During Bachie's Michigan State career, he racked up 285 tackles, eight sacks, five interceptions, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He was a staple on the Spartan defense, especially towards the end of his career, and many thought he was primed to have a solid NFL career.

Now that career may not have gone as we all maybe hoped, but he is still in the NFL today and just signed a new one-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bachie has spent the last three seasons with the Bengals and has been a key member of their special teams units. As an unrestricted free agent this offseason, he could have signed with any NFL team. However, he's chosen to stay in Cincinnati and has signed a new one-year deal with the team.

Bachie went undrafted in 2020 but was immediately picked up as a free agent by the New Orleans Saints. He never made any traction with the Saints, and ended up joining the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2020 season. After that season he joined the Bengals, where he has spent his career since.

Best of luck to Joe as he continues his NFL career, and I hope he is able to make it on the field soon on the defensive side of the ball where we all know he can dominate.