In case you missed it, the Chicago Bears made the re-signing of tight end Marcedes Lewis officially official on Monday.
The 6-6, 265-pound tight end played in all 17 Bears games last season. Although, it wasn’t as if he was playing a heavy workload. Lewis caught four passes for 29 yards while playing on just 29 percent of the offensive snaps. But for what it’s worth, Marcedes Lewis did score a touchdown last year, making him the oldest skill-positio𒊎n player to score a touchdown in 2023. What a fun factoid that could be used at trivia night or to impress your friends in social gatherings.
Lewis’ career is truly impressive when you consider how much time has passed since the moment the Jacksonville Jaguars used the No. 28 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft on the UCLA tight end and today. But still … you might be asking yourself why the Bears decided to run it back with a 40-year-old tight end in 2024. Hey, it’s OK. You probably aren’t alone in wondering.
With that in mind, I feel as if this quote truly encapsulates why the Bears are keeping Marcedes Lewis i💝n the fold for the 2024 campaign:
“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 there to lean on him to see what kind of professional he is, the mentality he brings, all that stuff,” said former Bears Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy 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.”
I realize there are some Bears fans who will roll their eyes at a Luke Getsy quote about 40-year-old tight⛎ end Marcedes Lewis. But I vibe with it. And clearly, so does this team.
What Marcedes Lewis brings to the table
Marcedes Lewis is set to embark on his 19th year in the NFL. A career that began in 2006 with NFL Draft classmates that included Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, and Hall of Famer Devin Hester is about to reach another season. That’s pretty neat. To make it this far, it means you’ve been healthy, productive, and respected by your peers, coaches, and front offices around the league. A tip of the cap to the player affectionately known as “Big Dog” in NFL circles.
But don’t get it twisted. Lewis’ return isn’t just about age and wisdom. Although, that stuff has value. Stop and think about it. The 2024 Chicago Bears are ushering in a new era of football with a rookie quarterback (Caleb Williams) and a potential future WR1 (Rome Odunze) spearheading the attack. On the other side of the ball, the Bears have a handful of defenders who are on the younger side of the football aging curve. Having experience is cool. But being a productive player with a ton of experience under your belt is the type of thing that can resonate with younger teammates.
In the🐭 end, I continue to see the Marcedes Lewis re-signing as a co-sign of what is happening with the Bears as a franchise. When Lewis signed with the Bears last offseason,🧔 it was easy to chalk it up to a former Green Bay Packers player following an assistant he was familiar with from a previous stop. But Lewis sticking around (despite having to learn a new offense that will be orchestrated by a rookie quarterback) as he enters his age 40 season seems to be the type of thing that can be viewed as a sign that this Bears team is going to be worth being a part of in 2024.
