Tight end Greg Olsen has a contract with the Carolina Panthers through the 2018 season after signing a three-year extension on Thursday.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus told Pro Football Talk that the deal is for $22.5 million and includes $12 million to sign.

“It’s really a dream come true,” Olsen said. “Since we’ve come to Charlotte, we very quickly realized that this is home. This community quickly embraced our family, so we put down roots here. We love it here. This is home for us.

“Now to have this contract that guarantees that I’ll play the rest of my career in Charlotte is a tremendous blessing. We’re just so thankful for the team believing in me and wanting me to still be a part of this. As a team, we have a lot of special times ahead of us.”

Olsen posted a career high and set team records in 2014 for most catches (84) and receiving yards (1,008) by a tight end in a season. He also had six touchdown receptions and made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

The 29-year-old Olsen also broke a team record for most 100-yard receiving games in a season with three and tied a Carolina record with 10 catches twice in games.

Olsen came to the Panthers in a trade with the Chicago Bears for a 2012 third-round draft pick in 2011. He was a first-round selection by the Bears in 2007.

During his NFL career, Olsen has 465 catches, 5,188 yards and 42 receiving touchdowns and has played in 126 consecutive regular-season games.