Tight end Marcedes Lewis just can’t leave the NFL. Or he doesn’t want to. And if a team is willing to sign him, why would he?
Lewis, 40, officially re-signed with the Chicago Bears on Monday and will play his 19th season in the league. The signing was first reported on Sunday by Fox’s Jay Glazer.
The Bears made the move official by posting a photo of Lewis signing his contract on social media. Financial terms of the one-year deal were not disclosed.
Lewis played in all 17 games for the Bears last season, starting four of them. He caught just four passes for 29 yards and one touchdown. But he is still considered an excellent run blocker, making him a good fit with fellow tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, who are known more for their receiving skills.
This Bears team will look different, with No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams at quarterback and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron now calling the plays. Lewis’ lengthy NFL career could also potentially make for a compelling storyline in HBO’s docuseries “Hard Knocks,” which will see the Bears in training camp this summer.
Lewis was a first-round pick (No. 28 overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft out of UCLA. He played 12 seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars, five for the Green Bay Packers and is entering his second season with the Bears.
Lewis could also set a record this season. If he appears in four games, which seems likely, Lewis will pass Jason Witten for the most career games played by a tight end. Jason Witten currently holds the record at 271 matches, Lewis is third at 268 (behind Tony Gonzalez at 270).
