Cody Whitehair isn’t the type to talk about himself.
So listen to what his teammates said Sunday after the center-turned-guard signed a five-year contract extension worth a reported $52.5 million with $27.5 million guaranteed.
“I feel like I just got paid a little bit, too,” quarterback Mitch Trubisky said. “[The Bears have] got to take care of my guys up front, and they certainly are.”
Guard Kyle Long, the second-longest-tenured Bear, smiled when asked about the deal, which is believed to be the second-largest guarantee ever given a guard.
“I’ve bragged about him for so long,” he said. “And now to be able to see it come to fruition, and now he’s able to get paid for it. I think he’s somebody that we need in this locker room. It’s been made clear by management that he’s important here.’’
The deal wasn’t surprising, but Whitehair was happy to get it done.
“It feels great,” Whitehair said. “Being here for an extended period of time is just great. This organization is great. The people in this building are great. It’s just a blessing.”
It’s how the Bears operate. Whitehair was the fourth player in as many years to receive a September contract extension before the season opener — and the fifth if you count the Bears trading for and signing outside linebacker Khalil Mack a year ago Sunday.
Long got an extension in September 2016, followed by defensive lineman Akiem Hicks the day before the 2017 opener and nose tackle Eddie Goldman last year. Like Whitehair, Hicks and Goldman were entering the final year of their contracts.
“They’re very loyal,” Whitehair said. “It speaks a lot about this organization and paying players that are drafted here, too — coming here and extending them and rewarding them for what they’ve done.”
Whitehair has never missed a start as a pro. He’ll make his first start at his new spot, left guard, Thursday after switching positions with center James Daniels.
“I had full belief that they wanted me here and wanted to keep me here,” Whitehair said. “I was just focused on playing and getting better. Obviously with the position switch, I had some dust to knock off. So that’s what I was focused on.”
Whitehair might be quiet, but the Bears have long loved his leadership skills.
“He does everything you ask for,” coach Matt Nagy said. “He’s literally everything you ask for in a player. Coming to work every day, working hard in practice, doing the correct assignments. So you appreciate that.
“Then you see growth, and you see development within that position. Then you see somebody who’s willing to accept a role change in a position, and a position change, and not blink doing it. We love all that.”
So do his teammates. Whitehair appreciated their excitement for him.
“They care about me so much,” he said. “It just means the world to me to stay here for another five years.”
