The former Sooners star extended his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs to become the highest-paid center in NFL history, adding another notch on OU’s belt as OLU.
An Oklahoma great was recently compensated, and the Sooners’ reputation as an O-Line powerhouse has grown even stronger.
Creed Humphrey, who played center at Oklahoma under Bill Bedenbaugh from 2018-20 and was named Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year twice, reportedly received a big contract deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, making him the highest-paid center in NFL history.
ESPN Sources: Chiefs and Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey reached agreement on a four-year, $72 million extension, including $50 million guaranteed. Humphrey now becomes the highest-paid center in NFL history.
Deal negotiated by Ken Sarnoff and Andy Simms of 1 of 1 Agency. pic.twitter.com/AooEM0HMwb
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2024
The four-year agreement keeps him with the Chiefs through 2028 and is worth $72 million in total, with $50 million guaranteed.
Humphrey, 25, was a second-round pick out of Oklahoma in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s been selected to two Pro Bowls and has helped the Chiefs win two Super Bowls in his three NFL seasons.
Earlier Thursday, it was rumored that former Sooners tackle Trent Williams was close to signing a new contract with the San Francisco 49ers, which would make him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman once again.
BREAKING NEWS: The #49ers are near completing a re-worked contract with LT Trent Williams, per source.
Contract will bring Trent back atop the highest paid OT’s in the #NFL, while adding a significant amount of guaranteed $.
Deal to be announced soon. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/Wda9JkCnCD
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) August 22, 2024
Williams, 36, has 11 Pro Bowl appearances and three All-Pro selections. In 2021, he agreed to a six-year, $138.06 million contract with the 49ers, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in football. His new contract appears to put him back at the top of the NFL’s list of highest-paid blockers.
When Williams signed his original contract with the 49ers, he surpassed another Sooner on the list of the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
In 2019, former Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson signed a four-year, $72 million contract deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, with $54.595 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL at the time.
Johnson’s $20 million per year stands tied for tenth among all NFL offensive lineman, while Williams’ $23.01 million per year ranks fourth, trailing only Detroit’s Penei Sewell ($28 million), Houston’s Laremy Tunsil ($25 million), and the Giants’ Andrew Thomas ($23.5 million). According to AZ Central, only Sewell is ahead of Johnson in the NFL right tackle position.
Bedenbaugh, who joined OU in 2013, did not coach Williams (who played at OU from 2007-09 before being selected fourth in the 2010 NFL Draft) or Johnson (who was a Sooner from 2009-12 before being selected fourth in the 2013 draft).
But Bedenbaugh has coached Humphrey and over a dozen other OU offensive linemen who have turned their college success into NFL careers. He also routinely delivers (and receives) praise on social media from his former teammates and others.
Thanks big man! I have been fortunate to coach great men! https://t.co/V4zuCWR3fr
— Bill Bedenbaugh (@OU_CoachB) August 22, 2024
On Wednesday, Bedenbaugh received a verbal commitment from one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class. Offensive tackle Michael Fasusi of Lewisville, Texas, is a consensus 5-star prospect and one of the best five tackles in the country.
Fasusi is OU’s highest-rated offensive line commit in the last 25 years, and if he signs with the Sooners, he will be ranked first by recruiting services among Bedenbaugh’s OU students.
On Wednesday, Pro Football Focus stated that Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton and Walter Rouse were the top two rookie offensive linemen in the NFL during the 2024 preseason. Guyton was a defensive lineman, tight end, and backup tackle at TCU before becoming a two-year starter for Bedenbaugh, while Rouse was a four-year starter at Stanford but planned to become a neurosurgeon before joining Bedenbaugh for the 2023 season.
