Bills center Mitch Morse is entering his eighth season as an NFL center. It only took him three years to realize Buffalo is where he wants to stay. Morse agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension on Monday afternoon.
"For me personally, I'd love to retire in a Buffalo Bills uniform," Morse said to Buffalo media. "And this gave me an opportunity to continue playing. I think both sides mutually came to a point where they were happy with the deal and then excited."
Morse came to Buffalo in 2019 after spending his first four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He admitted he had some preconceived notions coming in but those were quickly put in the past.
"I always tell people the beautiful thing when I got to Buffalo was all those were shattered," Morse said of his preconceived ideas. "I always knew the fan base was rabid and there was a love for the sport. But the town, the organization, it's been a beautiful blessing."
The center had his best season yet in a Bills uniform. His offensive line unit put together a strong finish to the 2021 season as the run game came alive. Morse wants to take the next step with his teammates in 2022.
"I feel like last year I was able to take a step in the right direction with communication, dialogue with the quarterback, dialogue with the offense, just kind of being able to see stuff going on."
With new teammates, a new offensive line coach and coordinator, Morse recognizes there are additional challenges but also more opportunities. He shared he's eager to work with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and excited to welcome veteran offensive lineman Rodger Saffold to the room.
"Rodger is an established veteran in this league, a Pro Bowler and just a physically imposing, very physical player," Morse added. "He's been doing it at a high level for a very long time. And we're excited to have him and I'm looking forward to working with him and trying to take this next step as a team."
Morse will be the center in Buffalo through at least the 2024 season thanks to his new contract. The Missouri grad plans to not let any opportunities go to waste and wants to take advantage of their window to win.
"We've been playing good football," Morse said. "Is it contagious? Hell yes it's contagious. It's contagious to have a kick-ass quarterback behind you playing good ball, have a defense that plays lights out together, have a locker room that goes through awesome wins and devastating losses and then you kind of come out on the other side of it.
"It's a good locker room to be a part of and that's what drives us all is just the guys in that locker room. So I'm very happy to be here."
