VETERAN NFL tight end Marcedes Lewis is returning to the league for his 19th season.
The Chicago Bears are re-signing Lewis after he played in all 17 of the team’s games last season.
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Lewis broke the record for most seasons played by a tight end last season, surpassing Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez.
He turned 40 in May, making him the second-oldest player in the NFL after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Lewis was a valuable leader in the Bears clubhouse last season when they finished 7-10.
With the team expected to make a breakthrough this year, the team waived the veteran to maintain its leadership.
“One of the coolest things I saw in my head was that you have this guy who is in the room and who is rising to become a high-level player, who has Marcedes there to lean on him to see what kind of professional he is. yeah, the mentality he brings, all that stuff,” former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said last season.
“Those intangible things were what made me think, I don’t want to say beg, but I mean, ‘This guy is going to make a difference, an impact.’ And on top of that, he’s out there doing his job at an elite level, even at his age.”
Lewis spent 18 years in the league with just three teams.
He was selected with the 28th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Lewis spent his first 12 years with the Jaguars, where he played his most productive football.
In those 12 years, he caught 375 passes for 4,502 yards and 33 touchdowns.
He also earned his only Pro Bowl selection with the Jaguars.
Lewis moved to the Green Bay Packers in 2018 and spent five years with the team.
There, he recorded just 582 yards and scored six touchdowns.
Last year with the Bears, Lewis caught just four passes for 29 yards but scored a single touchdown.
Fans were thrilled to see Lewis getting another year in the NFL and shared their thoughts on social media.
“Best blocking TE in the NFL,” said one fan.
“I loved this autograph session! Welcome back big dog,” said another fan.
“I love it!” a third fan said.
Lewis is already 40 years old, but if he can finish this season healthy and make the 2025 season in the squad, he will join an exclusive club.
Only 20 NFL players have played 20 seasons in the league, and Lewis would join the likes of Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Jerry Rice as players who have completed two decades.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
