The Chicago Bears aren’t done retooling their roster for the 2024 season. Though Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett make a strong combo at tight end, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus likely felt they could use another blocker. Rather than take their chances on an unknown, they decided to call on an old friend. Marcedes Lewis returned on a one-year deal to rejoin the team he helped improve to 7-10 last season. Despite turning 40 years old in May, he was excellent as a blocker for the Bears, allowing only one pressure all season.
Still, that hasn’t stopped people from making jokes at his expense. He is the only active player remaining from the 2006 draft class, where he was a 1st round pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Somebody decided to point out that new Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was four years old that year. Williams caught wind of that on Twitter (X) and couldn’t resist teasing his new teammate.
Lewis is no stranger to the jokes. He probably got used to them a long time ago. Still, he felt obliged to respond. In emoji fashion, of course.
Marcedes Lewis can be a terrific influence on Williams.
His vast experience over 18 seasons in the NFL is an incredible pool of knowledge for a young quarterback. Lewis also has a glittering reputation as a locker room leader. It probably isn’t a coincidence that every quarterback he’s played with ended up having their career-best season with him in the lineup. It was true of David Garrard, Blake Bortles, Aaron Rodgers, and Justin Fields. His presence is always a positive one, even if the impact might seem small on the field.
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One thing is clear. The two have already gotten off on the right foot. Justin Fields’ relationship with Marcedes Lewis never came across as anything other than professional. Williams seems plenty interested in embracing the old dog. The Bears locker room seems thrilled to have him back. If he’s the same quality blocker he was last year, their offense just got better. Williams is always dangerous when he has protection. It would be great if what could be Lewis’ last season ends up with a playoff run.
I can almost hear that music from NFL Films when Lewis runs onto the field and the voice of the narrator saying, “The wily old veteran still had more to give and something to prove.” More mythical sounding music as the 40 yr old TE holds a block then sneaks into the end zone wide open for the game-winning TD catch!
Gotta give the man respect for doing it at a high level for 18 yrs.
Welcome back, Marcedes!
What would a fairy tale without the old warrior returning to save the day, and what a story would be told if the Bears were to win the Super Bowl in Lewis’s final year and Caleb’s first year!
Lewis has been around the league practically Caleb’s whole life. Crazy! Good dude!