Packers Sign Rashan Gary to Contract Extension
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers locked up a huge part of their present and future by signing outside linebacker Rashan Gary to a contract extension on Monday.
Gary posted the details on his X account. He reported a value of $107,532,706 with a $34.6 million signing bonus. A source told Packer Central that the deal includes $96 million in new money on top of what he was scheduled to make in 2023.
Gary signed before the game on Sunday.
The extension will keep Gary tied to the Packers through the 2027 season.
“That would be my dream,” Gary told Packer Central in 2022. “That would be my dream. But I’ve got to keep my head down and work and not look too far ahead or all this talk is just talk.”
Officially, according to a source who had access to the specifics, the signing bonus is $34,636,928. The base salaries are $4.9 million in 2023, $1.3 million in 2024 and $6.8 million in 2025 before soaring to $18 million in 2026 and $21 million in 2027. The deal includes roster bonuses of $6.2 million in 2024 and $8.7 million in 2025. From 2024 through 2027, there are annual workout bonuses of $700,000 and gameday roster bonuses totaling $800,000 per season.
In announcing the signing on Monday, general manager Brian Gutekunst said: "Rashan has been an impact player and person for us since he joined the Packers. His work ethic is unmatched and he has developed into a team leader and cornerstone of our team. We are very pleased that he will remain in Green Bay for years to come."
The new-money average is $24 million per season. San Francisco’s Nick Bosa is by far No. 1 among edge defenders at $34 million per season. Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt ($28 million), the Chargers’ Joey Bosa ($27 million) and the Browns’ Myles Garrett ($25 million) are ahead of Gary; Gary is just ahead of the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby and the Chargers’ Khalil Mack ($23.5 million apiece).
His 2023 cap charge, according to Ken Ingalls, of about $11.82 million is actually a tad more than the fifth-year option of $10.89 million, so the deal didn't provide any immediate cap savings ahead of the Tuesday trade deadline. From there, his charges rise to $15.93 million in 2024, $23.93 million in 2025, $26.43 million in 2026 and $29.43 million in 2027.
Rashan Gary has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Packers through 2027.
Photo by Wm. Glasheen/USA Today Sports Images
Gary is a face-of-the-franchise type player. He is obviously supremely talented but also put in the work to become a star, both before and after his torn ACL. He leads the Packers with 4.5 sacks.
Moreover, being a member of the Packers is extremely meaningful to him. They took a chance on him as the 12th pick of the 2019 NFL Draft and showed patience throughout his development.
“No. 1 is a ring. Personal goals, I don’t like to talk about, but my No. 1 thing is getting us to that division championship, winning and going to the Super Bowl. That’s the No. 1 thing,” Gary said in 2022.
Gary went from two sacks as a rookie in 2019 to five sacks in 2020. His career took flight in 2021, when he established career highs with 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He was set to crush those numbers in 2022, when he had five sacks in the first four games – one in the first three games and two in the fourth – and six sacks in the first eight games before he suffered a torn ACL in Game 9 at Detroit.
As he’s done throughout his career, Gary went back to work. On Aug. 7, almost exactly nine months after the injury, the Packers let him practice for the first time in training camp.
“They told RG that he could finally do individual drills but he couldn’t practice [at full participation], and he started crying,” cornerback Rasul Douglas recalled. “That’s just how much invested he is to football and what it means to him. When you’ve got guys like that, you always want to be a part of that with them.”
Why does football matter so much? His response speaks to why the Packers value Gary so much beyond what he does between the white lines on Sundays.
“Just my love for the game,” Gary said. “Football is something that offered myself, my family a great life. I just owe the game of football so much. That’s all I wanted to do. This sport gives me the opportunity to provide for my family. There’s no better feeling than saying you’re able to do something or take care of something and you’re able to do it. This game provides me that.
“I’ve got two nephews that are looking up to me. Having this game, showing them how men are supposed to go about their work and how it looks to take care of family, man, it’s important. Just being able to do that, Green Bay blessed me with the opportunity to do that, so, man, every snap, I’ve got to go out there and go balls to the wall. That’s what I do.”
Gary was back on the field for Week 1. During Sunday’s loss to Minnesota, he played a season-high 46 snaps.
“I want to be the best at my position,” Gary said. “When you say things like that, that’s where I want to be is be able to be top of the categories and things. But my No. 1 thing is bringing a ring back. So, I’m not really into all that, how people are looking at me. I’m into whatever I’ve got to do for this team so we can bring back the ring.”
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