After signing a three-year extension with the Cincinnati Bengals, Mike Gesicki has shared his reaction to Joe Burrow pushing the team to get a deal done. In a comical moment, Gesicki referenced a well-known meme to describe his surprise at being singled out by his quarterback.
Bengals Sign Mike Gesicki to 3-Year, $25.5 Million Extension
After an impressive year with the Bengals, Gesicki is staying put. The former Miami Dolphin caught 65 of 83 targets in 2024, totaling 665 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
One of Gesicki’s biggest contributions last season was stepping up in the absence of Tee Higgins. Higgins has been franchise-tagged for the second straight year, but his availability remains a concern. Over the past two seasons, he’s been limited to just 24 games, starting only 20.
With Higgins sidelined, Gesicki delivered with 26 receptions, 312 receiving yards, and both of his season’s touchdowns in just five games. That ability to keep the offense moving when a key weapon was out proved invaluable.
So much so that when Burrow spoke to the press about the Bengals’ need to secure key contracts, Gesicki’s name came up.
Speaking to “Breakfast Ball” ahead of the Super Bowl, Burrow even suggested he’d restructure his contract to help keep the team intact.
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“We have the cap space to get it done. I know I wanna make it happen. Everybody involved, Trey [Hendrickson], Tee, Ja’Marr [Chase], Mike G, we all wanna stay together. So when you have guys that are motivated like that, you can get those things done.”
When Burrow was then asked if he would be willing to restructure his deal to accommodate those contracts, he responded, “Of course.”
Gesicki Reveals Surprise at Being Singled Out
After signing his three-year extension, Gesicki admitted he was shocked that Burrow had named him as a key piece of the offense. Speaking to the press about the deal, Gesicki summed up his reaction with a popular meme reference.
“Did not talk to Joe before that (Burrow’s interview). I am like that picture on Twitter you see, of the dude, like, pointing at himself on the couch.”
Gesicki mimicked the meme, drawing laughter from the room.
“That was me. Literally on my couch. I was sitting there with my wife, and I literally looked at her, and I was like, ‘Hallie, like—Mike G—I think he was talking about me.'”
Gesicki laughed at the memory, as did the rest of the room. And, as is the modern way, the amusement didn’t stop there as it spread across social media.
Not only was Gesicki the first of the four players Burrow mentioned to secure an extension, but Chase is expected to follow with a record-breaking contract. Meanwhile, Higgins has been franchise-tagged, and Hendrickson has requested a trade.
In what has been a challenging offseason for the team, Gesicki’s deal brings a much-needed positive moment. Now, the organization can shift focus to the bigger decisions ahead with plenty of work still to be done.