Former Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis Continues Long NFL Career With Bears

The former Jaguars first-round pick will play for a staggering 18th season after signing with the Chicago Bears.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round pick Marcedes Lewis is making NFL history.

Lewis will play for a record-breaking 18th NFL season in 2023, signing a deal with the Chicago Bears on Friday. Lewis has been a standout tight end throughout his nearly two-decade-long career, with 12 of those years being spent donning Jaguars colors. 

Lewis, 39, told the Associated Press earlier this offseason that he had desires to sign with a team before training camp this offseason after five years with the Green Bay Packers. 

“But if you just look at my film from the last three years, there’s no decline in what I’m able to do. I’m the best blocking tight end out there," Lewis said. 

The Jaguars drafted Lawrence out of UCLA with the No. 28 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft after Lewis had a standout high school and college career. 

The highest-drafted tight end in franchise history and still the only tight end the Jaguars have ever spent a first-round pick on, Lewis spent 12 years with the Jaguars, the second-most of any player in franchise history. Lewis is third in games played in 170. 

Lewis started 162 games for the Jaguars (second-most in franchise history), which included five playoff starts. During his career with the Jaguars, he caught 375 passes for 4,502 yards (12.0) and 33 touchdowns. Lewis ranks ninth in scoring, third in receptions, third in receiving yards, third in receiving touchdowns, fifth ins scrimmage yards, and fifth in all-purpose yards among all players in franchise history. 

Lewis signed with the Green Bay Packers in 2018, appearing in 86 games and starting 69 over the past five years and catching 57 passes for 582 yards and six touchdown catches.