LAKE FOREST, Ill. — On Thursday, the Chicago Bears announced they had extended the contracts of special teams standouts Josh Blackwell and Amen Ogbongbemiga for two additional years.
Josh Blackwell has made a mark with the Bears by recording 22 special teams tackles over his three seasons with the team. His standout moment came at the close of last season when he became the first Bears player since 2021 to score a touchdown from a punt return. This memorable play happened during the final game against Green Bay, where Blackwell dashed 94 yards for the score on a cunning trick play.
The play unfolded as DJ Moore acted like he was about to catch a punt near Green Bay’s sideline during the first quarter. In reality, Blackwell received the ball on the opposite side of the field, his back turned towards the line of scrimmage. The majority of the Packers’ coverage players rushed towards Moore and other Bears players, leaving Blackwell with a clear path to the end zone. This maneuver played a crucial role in Chicago’s 24-22 victory, snapping their ten-game losing streak.
Blackwell, who also plays as a cornerback, began his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent with Philadelphia in 2022. Prior to his professional career, he played college football at Duke from 2017 to 2021.
Amen Ogbongbemiga achieved a personal best last season with 11 special teams tackles for the Bears, after spending his initial three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. As a linebacker, Ogbongbemiga has accumulated a total of 27 tackles on defense during his NFL career.
