Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen decided he still has a desire to play football professionally. Olsen signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers on Thursday and will remain with the team through 2020 season. The 33-year-old recently teased retirement and even considered a broadcasting career, interviewing for the Monday Night Football analyst job.
😀😀😀 pic.twitter.com/rS5NWWy4x5
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 26, 2018
Olsen signed a three-year deal in 2015, which saw him getting $12 million signing bonus and earning $7.5 million on average per season. This two-year extension is worth $8.55 million per season according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“I’ve made it clear over the past year that I want to keep playing and I want to play here,” – said Olsen in a statement Thursday. “Both sides were very fair and worked on it in a timely manner. I feel really good about what we were able to get done both for ourselves and the team.“
Originally drafted in NFL by the Chicago Bears, Greg Olsen started playing his best football after being traded to the Panthers in 2011. During his time in Carolina, Olsen has earned three Pro Bowl selections and two Second-team All-Pro honors. He has also become the first tight end in NFL history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive seasons (2014-2016). He didn’t have the opportunity to continue the streak since he suffered a foot injury in Week 2 of 2017 season and was limited to 7 games.
Having Greg Olsen signing the extension means that the Panthers will probably change their approach to the 2018 NFL draft where they were predicted to take a tight end.
