Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Andrei Iosivas faced more than just on-field challenges during the 2025 NFL season. The third-year player also battled a wave of online abuse that he says seeped into his mindset, disrupting his performance and emotional well-being.
Iosivas, who was credited with five dropped passes during the regular season, admitted on Tuesday that the criticism and harassment on social media weighed heavily on him. "I feel like last year I was in my head a little bit," Iosivas told ESPN.com’s Ben Baby. "I had those drops in those games and people were telling me to kill myself and all that kind of stuff." He described the experience as unprecedented, noting that the relentless online vitriol—including direct threats—was unlike anything he had encountered before.
Iosivas finished the 2025 season with 33 receptions for 435 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the challenges, he emphasized the importance of mental resilience as he prepares for his fourth season with the Bengals. "Just not letting outside noise get to me and letting circumstances get to me," he said. "I know I'm a great player so [I'm] not letting people's opinions or things in the building kind of just irritate me."
Over the past two seasons, Iosivas has served as the Bengals’ third wide receiver, behind stars Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The team made only one notable addition to its receiving corps in 2025—fourth-round draft pick Colbie Young—leaving Iosivas with an opportunity to rebound from a difficult year and reclaim his role in Cincinnati’s offense.
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