The Chicago Bears have secured their kicking game for the foreseeable future by signing veteran kicker Cairo Santos to a lucrative four-year extension, worth $16 million. The deal, which includes $9.5 million guaranteed, ensures that Santos will remain with the team until the 2027 season.

Santos, who has been serving as the Bears' kicker since the 2020 season, has proven to be a reliable asset for the team. In his tenure with the Bears, Santos has successfully made 104 of 114 field goal attempts, boasting an impressive 91.2% success rate. His exceptional performance led him to surpass the legendary Robbie Gould as the most accurate kicker in franchise history.

The 32-year-old kicker has continued to excel in the 2023 season, making 27 out of 29 field goal attempts so far. His consistency on the field was evident last year when he set a franchise record by making 30 field goals. Santos' exceptional play in 2020 earned him a well-deserved spot on the NFC's special teams player of the month list for November, where he made 12 of 14 field goals and added 5 extra points, accumulating a total of 41 points.

Prior to his stint with the Bears, Santos had kicked for various teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tennessee Titans, throughout his impressive 10-year career.

While the signing of Santos solidifies the Bears' special teams unit, it's just one item on General Manager Ryan Poles' busy off-season checklist. The team is also facing the impending free agency of cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who has expressed his desire to remain in Chicago. Despite Johnson's request for a trade earlier in the season, negotiations for an extension were unsuccessful. Johnson, who is tied for the team lead with four interceptions, remains a key player for the Bears' defense.

With the signing of Cairo Santos and the pending decisions regarding Jaylon Johnson, the Bears are taking important steps in shaping their roster for the future. The extension of Santos not only provides stability in the kicking game but also ensures that the team can rely on his accuracy and clutch performances for the years to come.