Ahead of the start of the 2026 season, new UCLA Bruins head coach Bob Chesney brought in a UCLA football alum to come and speak with the team. Longtime NFL tight end Marcedes Lewis spoke with the team, informing the group to take full advantage of their opportunities this season.
Lewis has spent the past two decades in the NFL, playing 20 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and the Denver Broncos. Lewis isn’t on a roster to begin the 2026 season but the 42-year old has yet to announce his retirement.
Lewis is a UCLA success story, as he became an All-American in his senior season with the Bruins before getting drafted in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Jaguars. Once Lewis got to the league, he stayed
there, playing the most career games for a tight end in NFL history despite being a Pro Bowler just one time.
After practice on Friday, Chesney spoke about Lewis’ message to the team.
“He just said, ‘Don’t waste opportunities. You’re here and it’s going to fly by quickly but you have a chance to really just focus on playing this game,’” Chesney said of Lewis’ speech. “Don’t waste an opportunity. Because at some point you’re done and you will hang those cleats up, so you don’t want to look back and have regrets.”
Former #UCLA TE Marcedes Lewis addressed the Bruins after Friday’s practice. @JackJohnSavage asked coach Bob Chesney about Lewis’ message:
— Aaron Heisen (@aaron_heisen) August 28, 2026
“Don’t waste opportunities.” pic.twitter.com/jqBrTn1aJ8
Any UCLA player would be fortunate to have the professional career that Lewis did, making his words hold extra weight to a Bruins team that is looking for their first winning season since joining the Big Ten Conference.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: 20-year NFL vet comes to talk to UCLA ahead of Week 1 versus Cal
