The Chicago Bears have signed veteran kicker Cairo Santos to a four-year extension.
Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the $16 million contract includes $9.5 million guaranteed.
The Bears announced the extension Saturday without disclosing financial terms.
It’s great to be able to extend Cairo for another four years,” general manager Ryan Pauls said in a statement.
His stability and reliability will help us continue to grow.
Santos, 32, has been the Bears’ kicker since the 2020 season.
During that time, he has made 104 of 114 field goal attempts, including 27 of 29 this season.
His 30 field goals in 2020 set a franchise record.
New contract ties Santos to Chicago through the 2027 season.
Santos was playing in the final year of his contract extension after setting the Bears’ single-season record with 93.8% field goal percentage in 2020.
Santos has surpassed longtime Bears kicker Robbie Gould as the most accurate kicker in franchise history, converting 91.2% of his field goal attempts since returning to the Bears in 2020.
(Santos’ first stint in Chicago was in the 2017 season, when he appeared in two games.)
He was named the NFC’s special teams player in November, making 12 of 14 from the field and making an extra He completed 5 out of 5 goals.
point.
He also led the NFL in field goals made, field goal attempts, and points scored (41).
Santos also kicked for the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tennessee Titans during his 10-year career.
Extending Santos isn’t the only thing on the Polish’s to-do list for the Bears as the offseason begins.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson reiterated this week his desire to remain in Chicago after the 2023 season, with free agency on the horizon.
The Bears and Johnson were unable to agree on a contract extension earlier this season, and the cornerback was not moved by the deadline after requesting a trade in October.
Johnson is tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.
ABC News