Kyle Long will enter his fourth season with the Chicago Bears with an opportunity to join a select fraternity in franchise lore. Long has been to the Pro Bowl after each of his first three seasons. And if he can repeat that feat in 2016, he will become the sixth player in Bears history to make the Pro Bowl after his first four seasons.
The others on that list: Brian Urlacher, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka, Gale Sayers and Rick Casares.
Long's talent and value has long been evident to the Bears. And now his long-term future with the organization is secure. The Bears officially announced a four-year contract extension for Long on Wednesday morning, a deal which will now extend through the 2021 season.
Long still had two seasons left on his rookie contract but will now proceed into the year with even greater security. An NFL Network report over the weekend indicated that the new extension would be in the range of $40 million overall with $30 million guaranteed.
Long, according to sources, is currently battling through a serious labrum issue in his left shoulder, an injury he's attempting to play through as the Bears head for their season opener in Houston this weekend.
