When the Chicago Bears traded former Wayne Hills High School All-American Greg Olsen to the Carolina Panthers, the National Football League Free Agency feeding frenzy took on a local twist on Thursday afternoon.The Bears traded Olsen to the Panthers for a player and an unspecified draft pick. On Wednesday evening, Olsen's availability was made public when the veteran tight-end's agent Drew Rosenhaus reportedly e-mailed the league saying that the Bears were willing to deal Olsen, who already reported to training camp down in Bourbonnais, IL.
Olsen, who was the Bears' first-round draft pick in 2007 out of the University of Miami, is entering his final year of his rookie contract and is expected to ink a new deal with the Panthers when both sides can agree after 6 p.m. Friday ET under NFL guidelines. Olsen's days with the Bears appeared to be numbered when former St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz, a passing savant, was appointed offensive coordinator in 2010.
Last season, Olsen put up his lowest numbers since his rookie season, catching 41 passes for 404 yards and five touchdowns as the Bears advanced to the NFC championship game, losing to eventual Super Bowl champions Green Bay Packers, 21-14. Olsen averaged 23.8 yards per catch in the 2010 playoffs, and since 2009, he ranks sixth in receiving touchdowns by a tight end (20). He's second among tight ends in franchise history with 20 career scoring grabs.
The move makes sense to Olsen's father, Chris, who coached the 6-foot-5, 255-pound All-American at Wayne Hills. "I spoke to [Drew] Rosenhaus just a few moments ago and it's officially a done deal," said Chris Olsen from his home via telephone on Thursday evening. "Greg's really excited about it and looking forward to the move."
Olsen will reunite with new Panthers offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski, who recruited Olsen at the University of Miami while in high school. Chudzinski, who was hired by the Panthers earlier this year, was on the San Diego Chargers staff last season helping the Chargers rank No. 1 in the NFL in total offense as assistant head coach/tight ends coach.
A standout tight end on the University of Miami teams that won national titles in 1987 and 1989, Chudzinski has worked with tight ends since beginning his coaching career at his alma mater in 1994. He mentored former Hurricane standout tight ends Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow II and Bubba Franks in his 10 seasons in southern Florida, which included three seasons as offensive coordinator (2001-03) before moving on to the NFL.
In addition to Chudzinski, Olsen will reunite with former college teammate and close friend Jon Beason, an All-Pro linebacker for the Panthers. Olsen will report to Panthers training camp on Friday at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. with practice opening on Saturday, July 30 according to the Carolina Panthers team website.
He's expected to assume the same role with the Panthers, used as a key blocking tight end on the edge in run formations and as a pass catcher for young quarterback Jimmy Clausen and Heisman Trophy winner and former Georgia standout Cam Newton, the first overall pick of the NFL draft this past April.
The Panthers open the preseason on August 13 when they host the New York Giants at Bank of America Stadium. The regular-season schedule also features a twist for Olsen as the Panthers visit the Bears at Soldier Field in Week 4 on Oct. 4. The Panthers also play the Tennessee Titans at home in Week 10 on Nov. 13, with former Passaic County coaching legend and Passaic Valley coach Chet Parlavecchio on the sidelines as an assistant coach with the Titans.
Olsen enters his fifth season with 194 receptions for 1,981 yards and 20 touchdowns. Career highlights include a three reception, 113-yard and one touchdown performance against the Seattle Seahawks as the Bears won their first playoff game of the 2010 postseason.
Earlier this month, Olsen was in Wayne assisting his father Chris at his annual Olsen's Back to Basics Youth Football Camp, where Rosenhaus and a host of other former and present standout players attended. Olsen, 26, and his wife Kara recently became parents when Kara gave birth to their first child, Tate on June 6.
