Chiefs Sign OLB Justin Houston To A Six-Year, $101M Deal

July 15, 2015

Update:

Justin Houston announced the agreement via his Twitter account Wednesday.

Blessed to sign contract with the KC Chiefs. Thanks to my family #1 & my agents Joel Segal & @gbo74 for the awesome contract!

— Justin Houston (@JHouston50) July 15, 2015

Also Thanks & great appreciation to Mr. Hunt, Coach Reid, John Dorsey and of course the best fans of the NFL

— Justin Houston (@JHouston50) July 15, 2015

———-

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Chiefs have signed franchise OLB Justin Houston to a six-year contract worth $101 million and includes $52.5 million guaranteed.

Jason La Canfora reports that Houston will make $21.5 million in 2015, $43 million by 2016, and $52.5 million by 2017.
Houston receives $32.5 million fully guaranteed and $52.5 million guaranteed for injury.
Ian Rapoport reports that Houston receives $20.25 million at signing.
According to Schefter, this is the richest deal for a linebacker in NFL history and the second richest contract for a defensive player.

There had been talk that Houston could come close to Texans DE J.J. Watt‘s contract, but it looks like Houston managed to best Watt’s deal with this new agreement.

Kansas City had until 4 pm EST to get an agreement in place or Houston would have had to play out the season under the franchise tag.

Houston is without a doubt one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL and is deserving of this kind of deal. Keeping Houston long-term should also help the development of former first-round pick Dee Ford in the coming years.

Houston, 26, recorded 68 tackles, 22 sacks, four forced fumbles and five pass defenses over the course of 16 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1 outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense this year by a wide margin.