Report: Bears guard Kyle Long agrees to 4-year, $40M extension

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears and Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long have agreed to a four-year, $40 million contract extension, according to an NFL Media report.

The Bears have not confirmed the move.

Long, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has started 47 of 48 career games since Chicago drafted him 20th overall in 2013.

Despite playing only one year of high-level college football at Oregon, Long quickly developed into one of the NFL's best interior offensive lineman. Entering his fourth season, Long is the unquestioned leader of the Bears' offensive line.

"It's like a big caveman came in [when Kyle was a rookie] and kind of just pointed him in a direction and he went and ran," quarterback Jay Cutler recently said. "Now he knows football. He knows where the ball's going, at least, and who to block."

Long is recovering from a shoulder injury, but coach John Fox said he is optimistic Long can return for Chicago's Week 1 game at Houston.