Bengals linebacker officially signs $20 million extension

“Vontaze is a special talent; he has shown us that from his first day here,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said in a press release. “He is a load physically (6-foot-1, 255 pounds), and he’s extremely competitive. But what really makes him stand out is the instinct and feel he has for the game. It’s something born in him, you can’t coach a player to naturally react the way he does in all situations. This signing is a great move for the future of our defense.”

A middle linebacker in college, Burfict took over as the startiing weak-side linebacker three games into his rookie season when Thomas Howard suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Burfict started the final 14 games and led the Bengals in tackles in 2012, and last year he started all 16 games and led the NFL in tackles while earning his first Pro Bowl selection.

Fueled by Burfict’s play, the Bengals finished sixth in total defense in 2012 and third last year.

“It’s great to have this deal done and know I’m going to be here beyond this season,” Burfict said. “We can have a great defense again this year, even better than the last couple years.”

Burfict also led the Bengals last season in tackles-for-loss (eight) last year, and he tied for the front-seven lead in passes defensed (10). He had 3.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.

On Nov. 17 vs. Cleveland, he scored his first career touchdown on a 13-yard return of a fumble that he forced. He also had 18 tackles in that 41-20 victory to win AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Burfict will not turn 24 until next month, which means he will be 27 when the contract expires, potentially setting him up for another huge pay day for a player who was passed over by all 32 teams in the 2012 NFL Draft.

“It’s unusual to sign a player this early in his career to a contract extension, but Vontaze is a player who merits this,” Bengals vice president Katie Blackburn said. “He has proven to be an exceptional find for us, and we are happy to reward him now for his accomplishments. It’s good for him and good for our team.”