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Bears sign RB Tarik Cohen to three-year extension worth up to $18.25 million

The Chicago Bears have signed running back Tarik Cohen for another three years. The two sides agreed to a contract extension on Saturday ahead of Week 2, Cohen’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cohen will get $5.75 million per year, which comes to $17.25 million in new money. Over $9.5 million is guaranteed, and with $1 million in incentives, the contract could be worth up to $18.25 million.

Cohen, 25, is in the final year of his rookie deal and making $2.13 million in 2020. A fourth-round draft pick in 2017, he rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns and caught 203 passes for 1,534 yards and nine touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons. In 2017 he became the shortest player (5-foot-6) since 1934 to throw an NFL touchdown pass, and in the same year he became the first rookie since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score a rushing, receiving, passing and punt-return touchdown.

The Bears have signed RB Tarik Cohen to a three-year contract extension. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
The Bears have signed RB Tarik Cohen to a three-year contract extension. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Cohen has never rushed for more than 450 yards in a season. He had a down year in 2019, rushing for just 213 yards with zero rushing touchdowns. The $18.25 million extension isn’t on the high end of running back contracts.

In 2018, he rushed for 444 yards with three rushing touchdowns. He was also invited to the Pro Bowl and named an All-Pro in 2018 as a punt return specialist.

The Bears already seem to be finding ways to maximize his effectiveness in 2020. In the Week 1 win against the Detroit Lions, he rushed seven times for 41 yards and had two catches for 6 yards.

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