Newsstand: Former Notre Dame tight end signs $50 million extension
Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet, a second-round pick out of Notre Dame in 2020, signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension Wednesday. He learned the news only 20 minutes before the Bears’ first training camp practice.
Kmet earned a new contract this past season, catching 50 passes for 544 yards and seven touchdowns. As a junior in 2019, his best season with the Irish, Kmet brought in 43 receptions for 515 yards and six scores.
According to Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger, Kmet’s deal will pay him $20 million in its first year and includes $38.2 million in guaranteed money. He will cost the Bears $7,360,799 in salary cap space in 2023, and $11.6 million in each subsequent year through 2027.
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The Bears extended Kmet ahead of a pivotal season for the franchise two hours west of South Bend. He’s a security blanket for third-year quarterback Justin Fields, and he’ll team up with productive wideout D.J. Moore for the foreseeable future.
Chicago begins its regular season Sept. 10, when the Bears host the Green Bay Packers.
Notre Dame tweets of the day
The Irish competed Day 1 of fall camp Wednesday.
Before practice, Irish coach Marcus Freeman addressed his team.
2025 quarterback target Deuce Knight will visit Notre Dame on Thursday.
Quote of the day
“I wanted them to really focus on learning today. We have to correct mistakes, maybe without getting physical reps. Mentally, we have to take coaching. And then the second point was, ‘There’s gonna be mistakes. I get it. But I want to see guys that play with the effort and attitude that we only accept here at Notre Dame.’”
— Irish coach Marcus Freeman on what he said to his players when he gathered them together before Wednesday morning’s practice.
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