Jets News: James Burgess Signs 1-Year Contract; Career-High 80 Tackles in 2019

Free-agent linebacker James Burgess reached an agreement Monday to rejoin the New York Jets on a one-year contract.

Drew Rosenhaus, Burgess' agent, confirmed the signing to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The 26-year-old University of Louisville product recorded a career-best 80 total tackles, five passes defended, an interception, a forced fumble and a half-sack across 10 appearances with the Jets in 2019. He received a middling 54.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

In December, Burgess explained he hoped to find a more permanent home with the Jets following stops with five other organizations across three seasons after going undrafted in 2016.

"It's tough," he told ESPN's Rich Cimini. "Every man can't deal with it. Basically, you're living out of a suitcase. Every week or two, I was getting cut. It's tough. I wish that on no one. It's a lonely stage, but I kept fighting and kept going."

In all, he's registered 164 tackles, eight passes defended, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 27 regular-season games for the Jets and Cleveland Browns since 2017.

Burgess will compete for a starting job alongside C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson at the linebacker level in New York for the 2020 campaign.