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          Joe Mixon wants to be 'Bengal for life' as he mulls contract extension

          Joe Mixon has topped 1,100 rushing yards each of the past two seasons. Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
          • Ben Baby, ESPN Staff WriterDec 30, 2019, 05:00 PM
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              Ben Baby covers the Cincinnati Bengals for ESPN. He joined the company in July 2019. Prior to ESPN, he worked for various newspapers in Texas, most recently at The Dallas Morning News where he covered college sports. He provides daily coverage of the Bengals for ESPN.com, while making appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN's NFL shows and ESPN Radio programs. A native of Grapevine, Texas, he graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor's degree in journalism. He is an adjunct journalism professor at Southern Methodist University and a member of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).
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          CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon was hesitant to admit the thought of a new contract crossed his mind.

          With the season officially over, following Sunday's 33-23 win over the Cleveland Browns, Mixon’s future with the Bengals will be one of the franchise’s biggest storylines of the offseason. The third-year running back said a contract extension is part of a long-term vision that keeps him in Cincinnati for the rest of his career.

          “At the end of the day, man, I love being here,” Mixon told ESPN. “I love our fans. I love (the) fan base, I love the coaches and I love the upstairs people. They’ve been nothing but great to me.”

          In the win against Cleveland, Mixon rushed for a career-high 162 yards as he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season. Since the start of the 2018 season, Mixon has rushed for 2,305 yards. That’s good for seventh in the NFL during that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

          Since the Bengals drafted the Oklahoma product in the second round of the 2015 draft, he doesn’t have a fifth-year team option. That means 2020 will be the final season in his four-year deal worth $5.45 million.

          Even though Cincinnati finished 2019 with the worst record in the NFL and secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Mixon closed the year by posting the three best rushing performances of his career.

          “I just wanted to do whatever I could to finish the season off strong as best as I can,” Mixon told ESPN.

          Since Week 10, Mixon tallied 18 carries of 10 or more yards, the fourth-highest total in the NFL during that span, according to ESPN. On Sunday, Mixon passed the 1,000-yard mark with a 41-yard carry on the team’s first offensive drive of the game.

          “When you have these big runs and you have these big plays, it gives everyone the confidence that we’re going to get this thing done,” Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said.

          In the season finale against the Browns (6-10), Mixon scored two touchdowns and helped Cincinnati snap a 10-game losing streak to AFC North opponents. The victory also enabled the Bengals to avoid the only one-win season in franchise history.

          First-year coach Zac Taylor said the effort Mixon showed in Week 17 was similar to how he played the entire season.

          “You saw him running through some people today,” Taylor said during his postgame news conference on Sunday. “He was on a mission.”

          As the Bengals continue the rebuilding process, Mixon's performance this season showed why he deserves a long-term deal.

          Mixon told ESPN he hasn’t put much thought into the contract situation as he heads into the offseason. However, the conversation about his future has already picked up. Peter Schaffer, Mixon’s agent, asked the running back to call him on Sunday night. Mixon guessed Schaffer wanted to talk about a potential re-negotiation between him and the Bengals.

          “At the end of the day, I want to be a Bengal for life,” Mixon said. “Whatever happens, I just hope for the best.”