Bucs re-sign Leonard Fournette to three-year, $21M contract

Leonard Fournette's decision to re-sign with the Bucs likely was at least partly inspired by the return of Tom Brady. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Buccaneers re-sign RB Leonard Fournette to three-year, $21M contract

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/22/22

"Playoff Lenny" is the latest Tampa Bay Buccaneers player to re-sign with the team this off-season since legendary quarterback Tom Brady decided to come out of retirement earlier this month.

Sources: The #Bucs are re-signing RB Leonard Fournette, as more of Tom Brady’s friends return to Tampa. He gets a 3-year deal worth $21M up to $24M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 22, 2022

Fournette's decision comes just one day after visiting with the New England Patriots.

The 27-year-old just finished his second season with Tampa Bay, a campaign in which he posted 180 rushing attempts for 812 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, while adding 69 receptions for 454 receiving yards and two scores through the air. Fournette's 4.5 yards per carry and 5.1 yards per touch were new career highs, and his 10 total touchdowns tied his previous best mark, set during his rookie season in 2017.

Fournette missed the team's final three regular-season games and their wild-card round contest due to a hamstring injury, but he returned for the divisional-round loss against the Los Angeles Rams, where he recorded 13 carries for 51 yards and two touchdowns and added nine receptions on nine targets for 56 yards. The former Jacksonville Jaguar earned the nickname "Playoff Lenny" after his four-game stretch during the Bucs' run to the Super Bowl LV title, where he registered 64 rushing attempts for 300 yards and three touchdowns and added 18 catches for 148 receiving yards and one score as well.

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