Image courtesy of Atlanta Falcons

If Boston College needs any help recruiting for ‘O-Line U’ in the offseason, the staff should just have potential recruits look at Chris Lindstrom’s new contract.

With NFL free agency starting, the Falcons announced an extension for one of  the NFL’s best offensive linemen on Monday. Lindstrom signed a five-year, $105 million extension with $63 million of that contract guaranteed. The deal makes him the highest paid guard in NFL history.

Lindstrom has become a cornerstone of the Atlanta franchise. Last season in his fourth year, Lindstrom started all 17 games and helped the Falcons to the third-best rushing game in the league, averaging 159.9 yards a game. Lindstrom earned his first Pro Bowl nod, was named to the AP Al-Pro second team, Pro Football Focus’ All-Pro team and he was named a member of the Pro Football Writer’s Association All-NFC Team.

Off the field, Lindstrom has continued to carry on the “BC Guy” legacy and was named Atlanta’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee for his work in the community. Lindstrom has appeared in 55 games during his NFL career and has started all of them. In 2021, he was the only guard in the league that didn’t allow a sack. Perhaps his most impressive feat in a world where holding is called far too often, Lindstrom has only committed one hold in his career so far. On top of that, he’s got just six penalties TOTAL including only four false starts.

With brother Alec a member of the Cowboys organization and Lindstrom quickly becoming a face-of-the-franchise type guy, that Dudley, MA/Boston College pipeline to the NFL is looking stronger and stronger by the day.