Mike Gesicki is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Penn State tight end, who saw a boost in production last season, is signing a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension with the Bengals, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday. It includes $12 million in the first year of the deal.
Gesicki hauled in 65 catches for 665 yards and two touchdowns across 17 games and three starts this past year, his first in Cincinnati after spending the previous year with the New England Patriots.
After four seasons with the Nittany Lions, Gesicki was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2018 draft. He spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Dolphins before signing with the Patriots in 2023.
Gesicki has tallied 3,526 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns across his seven-year NFL career. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection at Penn State, and was quintessential in the program’s Big Ten Championship win in 2016.
Gesicki is one of four former Penn State tight ends who started for NFL teams last season. Pat Freiermuth of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brenton Strange of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Theo Johnson of the New York Giants are the other three.
Tyler Warren, who finished his career with the Nittany Lions as the program’s all-time leader in touchdowns, receptions and receiving yards by a tight end, is expected to become a first-round selection in April’s NFL Draft.
