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The Chicago Bears and tight end Cole Kmet agreed to a four-year, $50 million contract extension ahead of the team’s first training camp practice on July 27, according to sources confirmed by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Field Yates.
The deal includes $32.8 million guaranteed and $20 million in new first-year cash, sources told Schefter and Yates. The $12.5 million average annual value is tied with New England’s Hunter Henry for ninth most among tight ends, while the $32.8 million guaranteed is the fifth most at the position.
Cole Kmet speaks about his feelings on the contract extension
Kmet, 24, is the first Bears player to receive a multiyear extension during Ryan Poles’ tenure as general manager. He was drafted in the second round with the 43rd overall pick in 2020 by the Bears’ previous front office, and he has 138 catches for 1,399 yards and nine touchdowns in 50 career games in Chicago.
“It’s just amazing,” Kmet said Wednesday. “This whole thing from the beginning has been a dream come true. Just being drafted here first and being able to get an extension done and agree to terms on that is amazing. Looking forward to it and looking forward to the things that come with it — and many playoff appearances and Super Bowls to come.”
Kmet’s role in the Bears offense and future plans
Kmet emerged as a favorite target of quarterback Justin Fields in 2022, leading the Bears in receptions (50), receiving yards (544) and receiving touchdowns (7, a career high). He joined Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Baltimore’s Mark Andrews as the only tight ends to lead their teams in all three categories last season.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Kmet brought a balanced skill set to the Bears offense, ranking sixth in run block win rate among 45 qualified tight ends. Fields’ completion percentage, yards per attempt and first-down percentage spiked when he shared the field with Kmet in 2022.
As Kmet reflected on his massive payday, he said the way his role has evolved from his college days at Notre Dame to what’s been asked of him in the Bears offense serves as motivation entering his fourth season.
“It was funny, I was talking to someone the other day — blocking really wasn’t part of my game coming out, but it’s had to form that way based on the offenses I’ve been in the past three years,” he said. “I think that’s become a good strength of mine. It’s just always continuing to build my all-around game and be who I need to be that day.
“If I need to be on the line and we need to run the ball 40 times a game, I can be that guy. If we need to drop back 40 times to win a game, I can be that dude that is able to split out and do things as well. Just being able to continue to improve on all of those facets of the game.”
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