Little was known about Tarik Cohen until the Bears selected the running back in the 4th round of 2017. Cohen played for North Carolina A&T. Due to his size, only the Aggies offered Cohen a football scholarship. Tarik was the smallest RB to compete at the NFL Combine in 2017. Despite his lack of size, his athleticism impressed NFL scouts. He posted the third fastest 40 time for a running back, finishing with a time of 4.42.
In his first game with the Bears, he carried the ball five times for 66 yards and had eight receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Later that year, he threw a TD pass to Zach Miller. Cohen became the shortest player at 5' 6" to throw a TD pass since 1934.
Cohen's electric runs earned him the nickname "The Human Joystick.
Cohen was a fan favorite. in September of 2020, Cohen signed a three-year contract extension valued at $17.25 Million.
A String of Tragedies Soon Followed
In week three, Cohen was lost for the season. He suffered a torn ACL and MCL, as well as a Tibial Plateau fracture. He was placed on Injured Reserve two days later. He also missed the entire 2021 season. In May of 2022, during a workout, Tarik tore his Achilles tendon. He remained out of football for all of the 2022 season.
During this time, Tarik also suffered personal tragedy as well. In 2021, Cohen's twin brother, Tyrell, was found dead in Raleigh, North Carolina. Just 11 months later, his younger brother, Dante, was killed in a car accident.
Earlier this year, his agent said that Tarik was healthy and ready to resume his football career. Today, we learned Cohen had a workout with the Carolina Panthers. According to reports, the workout went well.
BREAKING: Former #Bears standout running back Tarik Cohen is nearing a deal to sign with the #Panthers practice squad after working out for Carolina today, and it went “extremely well,” source says. One of the great comebacks this is, after missing the last two seasons with injuries including an Achilles tear. The former
star has dealt with so much adversity from the death of his twin brother, Tyrell, and his younger brother, Dante, who was paralyzed from the waist down following a shooting. He has persevered.
We wish Tarik well if he does, indeed get signed by Carolina.
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