Greg Olsen, the longtime fan-favorite of the Carolina Panthers, is headed to Seattle to join the Seahawks.
The 34-year-old and Carolina mutually parted ways on Jan. 30 and since then he has been in talks with the Washington Redskins, the Buffalo Bills, the Seattle Seahawks, as well as spending a day in the booth for an XFL football game.
Many speculated Olsen would end up with the Redskins with his former coach Ron Rivera, but the speculation came to an end Monday when it was announced Seattle had signed the three-time Pro-Bowl player to a one-year, $7 million contract with $5.5 million guaranteed.
Three-time Pro Bowler ✅
One of the league's most accomplished tight ends ✅Welcome to Seattle, @gregolsen88! pic.twitter.com/FU5Fg4Shlt
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) February 19, 2020
Olsen has been in the NFL for 13 seasons, first playing with the Chicago Bears for four seasons, and then with the Panthers for the last nine seasons. He ranks fifth all-time among NFL tight ends in both catches and yards and is the Carolina franchise’s all-time leading tight end in receiving yards, receptions, and 100-yard receiving games. Also, Olsen was twice nominated as a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
The Seahawks need a tight end with Will Dissly coming off a ruptured Achilles tendon and veteran Seattle tight end Ed Dickson is likely to be released after he spent the greater part of his two seasons on the injured reserve.
Olsen, who has struggled with injuries of his own and hasn’t played a full season since 2016 has shown when he is healthy, he is still an asset to the game. Russell Wilson, the starting quarterback for Seattle, is looking forward to playing with Olsen as a reliable target for his passes, and a stronger Seahawks roster may be hard to defeat next season.
FACTS. #GoHawks 😎 pic.twitter.com/EntQDX75W7
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) February 2, 2020
