Eagles Sign Long Snapper Rick Lovato to Contract Extension

Long snappers are the unsung heroes of NFL teams. Without a good one, special teams get a whole lot more difficult. The Philadelphia Eagles just locked in their key specialist for the foreseeable future.

On Tuesday, the Eagles announced they've signed Rick Lovato to a four-year contract extension, officially locking him in through the 2023 season.

Lovato was an undrafted free agent out of Old Dominion in 2015, after which he signed with the Chicago Bears. His stint in the Windy City lasted three months, as the Bears released him during training camp.

In the following calendar year, Lovato had short tenures with both the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.

Lovato's one true chance came in December of 2016, when the Eagles signed him after former long snapper Jon Dorenbos broke his wrist. His work in relief impressed the Eagles so much they traded Dorenbos to the New Orleans Saints the following year.

After signing a one-year contract this past offseason, Lovato was set to hit restricted free agency at the conclusion of this season. Given how rarely his name is called during Eagles games (which is always a good thing for long snappers), the team wanted to ensure the 27-year-old remained with the organization for the next four years.

It was an easy decision for both parties.