CINCINNATI — The marriage of Ted Karras and the Bengals has been a very happy and productive one.
The 31-year-old center quickly assumed and embraced leadership responsibilities when he signed with the Bengals in March of 2022 for three years and $18 million. He became a captain and has served as a go-to guy in the locker room, not only for fellow offensive linemen but the team in general.
On Thursday, just before the team headed out for its third and final minicamp practice, Karras and the Bengals agreed to a reworked two-year, $12 million deal that will extend the popular and reliable lineman through the 2025 season.
“Anytime you go into a year where it’s the last year of your contract it’s always a heightened sense of anxiety,” Karras said. “I’m not afraid of that either. I’ve done that many times in my career, but that’s why I’m so thankful to this organization for offering me a great deal.”
Karras couldn’t be happier to remain in Cincinnati.
“I’m a Midwest guy, just from right down the street in Indy. I think we have a great team and so many great guys. Coach Taylor has put together a great staff and group of players. I get a lot of credit for leading, but it’s really quite easy. We have so many high quality men on this team. It’s an honor to be signed up for the next two seasons.”
“I’m a Midwest guy, just from right down the street in Indy. … it’s an honor to be signed up for the next two seasons.” Ted Karras pic.twitter.com/VFZLIV8ybv
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 13, 2024
And his head coach certainly was thrilled to have him on board for the next two seasons.
“Ted’s a big part of what we do (and) as a captain and he’s always led the right way and so again, happy that we were able to get that done and keep the train moving upfront,” Zac Taylor said.
Being a leader on offense means performing at a high level but also communicating that to your teammates through the example you set in meetings and on the practice field. That’s where Karras excels.
“(He) loves football, loves football and so you love a center that’s obsessed with the process,” Taylor told me. “He takes a lot of pride in the position, not just being a football player, not just being an offensive lineman, but being a center.
“And there’s a lot that goes into that, and Ted takes on all that takes complete ownership of it, does a great job with the communication, starting the communication up front, the communication with Joe, communication with us as coaches and then as a leader, as a voted captain, the communication as a team, he’s a guy you can trust. Again, he’s about all the right things and still got good years in front of him.”
Extending Karras really was as big of a no-brainer for the Bengals front office as there could be.
Not only is he reliable and dedicated to his craft on the field, he’s embraced what it means to be part of the Cincinnati community by establishing the “Cincy Hat” project, a stylish way for fans and teammates to contribute to his charity of choice – The Village of Merici – to help place adults with disabilities in their community and give them a sense of purpose.
“It feels great,” Karras said. “I’m very thankful to the Brown family and the Blackburn family. We’ve been working on it this spring. I’m really excited to be here for the next two years.
Karras made it clear that he wants to retire with the Bengals.
“I want to play for as long as they’ll me, and then I’ll play one more,” Karras said. “That’s kind of been my thought process in this league. When you start to get into year 9 and year 10 it starts looming a little bit. I’m not thinking that way. I feel fresh and young. I’m playing with a lot of 21 year olds, so it’s a lot of fun, and I do want to end it here. I think that is important to me. Football is an adventure and for the next two years, I’m here for sure.
“I know this organization. I think they know and trust me. They signed me, which I was so grateful for, not knowing me at all. I think to extend a contract this time knowing me now for 2-3 years means a lot. It means that I’m hopefully doing the right things.”
Karras celebrated in classic Karras style Thursday, mixing in social responsibility with responsible spirits.
“I think I’m going to go have a couple of beers,” Karras said. “I’m speaking at Kenwood Country Club. They bought like 500 hats. I’m going to go answer some questions. They did not knock off their membership fee. I said I’ll come talk if they make the entry fee 10 grand. They said, ‘no,’ but I’m going anyway. Probably then to Oakley to have a few beers, nothing crazy. Gotta pack up the house. Heading down to Florida this week.”
Rest up. Karras and wife Rachel can focus on taking care of their two-month-old child Penelope Jane, born just before the draft. When Karras and the Bengals return in late July, Karras will turn his focus once again to his second family.
“Ted’s a big part of what we do.” Zac Taylor on Ted Karras extension pic.twitter.com/xVS2eHpc4F
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 13, 2024
