The Eagles signed linebacker Mychal Kendricks to a four-year contract extension on Monday that will keep him in Philadelphia through the 2019 season ...
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks is so excited about his four-year deal he already has his helmet on
Kendricks is one of only three Eagles since 1982 to post at least four sacks and three interceptions in a single season, recording four sacks and three picks in 2013
The 2011 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year at Cal, Kendricks appeared in all 51 games during his four-year college career.
A second-round draft choice of the Eagles in 2012, the speedy and instinctive Kendricks was immediately inserted as a starter on the Eagles defense in his rookie campaign and has since developed into one of the unit's top playmakers.
Kendricks finished second on the team in 2014 with 108 tackles and tied for third with three forced fumbles.
Kendricks led the team with a season-best 16 tackles and forced his third fumble of the 2014 season when he stripped the ball loose from Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch vs. Sea. (12/7)
Kendricks forced a fumble of RB DeMarco Murray and intercepted QB Kyle Orton at Dal. (12/29) in 2013. The two turnovers led to 10 points by the Eagles on their ensuing drives.
Forced his second fumble of the season early in the third quarter vs. Ten. (11/23) in 2014, which ultimately set up an Eagles touchdown.
Recorded his third sack of the season - his sixth in an eight-game span - when he brought down Panthers QB Cam Newton for a 10-yard loss in a win vs. Car. (11/10) in 2014.
Kendricks registered a strip-sack of Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in the first quarter at Hou. (11/2) in 2014.
Kendricks paced the team with 13 tackles and notched a sack of Jaguars QB Chad Henne in a 2014 season-opening win vs. Jax. (9/7).
Kendricks forced a fumble vs. Was. (9/21) in 2014, stripping RB Alfred Morris in the first quarter.
Kendricks sacked Washington QB Robert Griffin III for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter at Was. in 2014 (12/20)
Kendricks led the NFL with four fumble recoveries and finished the 2013 year ranked second on the team with a career-high 137 tackles.
Kendricks posted a career-high two sacks of QB Jay Cutler vs. Chi. (12/22) in 2013.
Along with DeMeco Ryans, the duo became the first pair of linebackers in team history to post 4+ sacks and 2+ interceptions in the same season in 2013.
Kendricks ranked third on the team with 88 tackles and ranked third on the team with 11 knockdowns in 2012.
While in college, Kendricks earned several All-America selections as a senior in 2011 and was named the Pac-12's Defensive Player of the Year. He played in all 13 games with 11 starts, leading the team in tackles with a career-high 106, while adding two interceptions and three sacks.
Mychal Kendricks will be in the middle of the Eagles' defense for years to come.
On Monday evening, Kendricks signed a four-year contract extension, keeping him in Philadelphia through the 2019 season.
"It feels amazing," Kendricks said after signing the extension. "All of the hard work went toward the end goal, which was to reach a second contract and now it's here. It feels really nice. I think security is a big thing, and the fact that it's done early, I can have peace of mind and just go out there and play the game that I love ... It's a special day."
A second-round pick of the Eagles in the 2012 NFL Draft, Kendricks has been an integral part of the Eagles' defense for the past three seasons. The athletic inside linebacker has started 40 of his 42 career games, tallying 333 total tackles, nine sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
Despite missing four games last season, Kendricks was second on the team with 108 tackles and tied for third with three forced fumbles. Against Seattle, Kendricks racked up a season-best 16 tackles, the most by any Eagle in a single game all year. Kendricks' 2013 campaign was stellar, as he became just the third Eagle ever to post at least four sacks and three interceptions in a single season, joining William Thomas (1996) and Seth Joyner (1991 and 1992).
Kendricks' rookie contract was set to expire at the end of the 2015 season, but this new deal will keep No. 95 in midnight green for years to come, a fact that is great news for Eagles fans and bad news for Eagles opponents.
As he enters his fourth NFL season, Kendricks will continue to thrive under the mentorship of veteran DeMeco Ryans, the savvy leader of the Eagles' defense who has taken Kendricks under his wing since both players landed in Philadelphia in 2012. Kendricks will also get to work with the newly acquired Kiko Alonso, which could give the Eagles the quickest inside linebacker tandem in the NFL.
