Alaina GetzenbergAug 13, 2025, 07:36 AM ET
CloseAlaina Getzenberg covers the Buffalo Bills for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2021. Alaina was previously a beat reporter for the Charlotte Observer and has also worked for CBS Sports and the Dallas Morning News. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.
Running back James Cook and the Buffalo Bills have reached agreement on a four-year, $48 million contract extension that includes $30 million guaranteed, his agents, Zac Hiller and Matt Leist of LAA, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.
The extension comes a day after Cook returned to Bills practice Tuesday following a four-day hold-in that resulted in the running back missing Buffalo’s first preseason game. Cook was in full uniform and fully participated throughout Tuesday’s session.
“James could only envision himself as a Buffalo Bill,” Hiller said. “We are extremely thankful to the entire Bills organization and glad we could make that happen.”
PlayerTermsQB Josh Allen6 years, $330MDE Gregory Rousseau4 years, $80MCB Christian Benford4 years, $76MWR Khalil Shakir4 years, $53MLB Terrell Bernard4 years, $50MRB James Cook4 years, $48M
The Bills had maintained that they wanted to pay Cook throughout the offseason, with negotiations beginning early in the offseason and running into training camp.
Cook is a two-time Pro Bowler and Buffalo’s lead running back, but he’s still part of a group. He was on the field for just over 45% of offensive plays last year, with Ty Johnson often coming in on late downs and Ray Davis also getting some opportunities.
A member of a Bills offense that broke records, Cook tied a team record with 16 rushing touchdowns (O.J. Simpson) in 2024 and was fifth in yards before contact per rush (3.1). He took a significant step forward during the 2024 season, doubling his total touchdowns from the previous two seasons of his career (nine) in one year (18).