TE Marcedes Lewis Re-Signs With Bears For 19th NFL Season

Tight end Marcedes Lewis re-signed with the Chicago Bears and will continue his NFL career for a 19th season after he signed a one-year deal on Monday, the team announced.

Chicago Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis is the second-oldest active player in the NFL behind Aaron Rodgers

Lewis, who turned 40 on May 19, is the second-oldest active player in the NFL behind New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The four-time MVP turns 41 on Dec. 2.

Lewis ended last season with Chicago having played 268 career games. He became the longest-tenured tight end in NFL history in his 18th season, one more than Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten and Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.

In the 2023 season, Lewis made appearances in all 17 games (four starts). The 6-foot-6, 265-pound tight end finished with 29 receiving yards and averaged 7.3 yards per reception.

Year 19 loading 📶 pic.twitter.com/XHM5xK7Ysj

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) June 10, 2024

At a news conference in January, general manager Ryan Poles praised Lewis for his durability and leadership.

“That’s a special human being,” Poles said. “And I know he’s played a lot in this league, but he was a really key addition to our staff, our team and locker room.

“The leadership through some of the hard times, the things that he said to pull guys together was outstanding, and I’m really, really thankful for him.”

Last season, Lewis also recorded his only touchdown of the season in Chicago’s Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He primarily serves as a pass blocker for Chicago. The Bears went on to end the 2023 season with a 7-10 record.

Lewis was selected 28th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2006 draft out of UCLA

“One of the coolest things in my mind that I got to see was just, you’ve got this guy that’s in the room that’s ascending to be a really high-level player, that has Marcedes Lewis there to lean on him to see what kind of professional he is, the mentality he brings, all that stuff,” former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said in December.

“Those intangible things are what had me like, I don’t want to say begging, but saying, ‘This dude’s going to make a difference, an impact.’ And on top of it he’s out there doing his job at an elite level still at his age.”

Lewis spent the first 12 years (2006-2017) of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being drafted with the 28th overall pick in 2006. He totaled 375 receptions for 4,502 yards and 33 touchdowns with the Jags.

In 2010 with Jacksonville, he posted a career-best 58 catches for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns in his lone Pro Bowl season.

Lewis then spent the next five years (2018-2022) with the Green Bay Packers, where he caught 57 passes for 582 yards and six touchdowns.

Additionally, the Bears upgraded the tight end position this offseason by signing Gerald Everett, who joins starter Cole Kmet. Other options include Stephen Carlson, Tommy Sweeney, and rookie Brenden Bates.