The Carolina Panthers have signed offensive tackle Michael Oher to a three-year contract extension, the team announced Friday. Oher is now under contract with Carolina through the 2019 season.
“We’re very pleased,” Gettleman said. “Michael came in here last year and fit in extremely well. He really had a solid year. He’s in his prime right now and he’s healthy. He’s become a quality player for us.”
In 2015, Oher’s first season with the Panthers, he started all 16 regular season games, opening holes for Carolina to lead the NFL with 142.6 yards per game. Oher’s efforts helped Carolina win an NFC Championship and set team records with an NFL-leading 500 points and 59 touchdowns.
“I’m very excited,” Oher said. “I really can’t wait to get to work. I don’t want to let these guys down. They believe in me.”
Oher, 6-4 and 315 pounds, joined Carolina as a free agent in 2015 after spending 2014 with the Tennessee Titans.
Oher entered the NFL as a first-round draft choice (23rd overall) of the Baltimore Ravens in 2009, playing with the team through 2013.
He spent his first two seasons (2009-10) under the tutelage of Panthers’ running game coordinator John Matsko, then the offensive line coach for Baltimore. In 2009, Oher started all 16 games, 11 at right tackle and five at left tackle, helping the Ravens tie a then-franchise record for points (391) and also set a record for most touchdowns scored (47). Oher also helped pave the way for the Ravens to rush for 2,200 yards and a team-record 22 rushing touchdowns. In 2010, Oher started all 16 games at left tackle and helped protect Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, allowing him to complete 62.6 percent of his passes (306 of 489) and throw for 3,622 passing yards, and set career highs with 25 touchdowns and a 93.6 quarterback rating. He helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII after the 2012 season.
For his career, Oher has started all 107 regular season games played and all 13 postseason games played.
