As his agent fielded offers for a new contract this week, Sam Acho just happened to be in the company of Bears Chairman George McCaskey.

Acho and McCaskey had traveled with the Willow Creek Community Church to the Louisiana State Penitentiary as part of a ministry to discuss prison reform. Acho’s agent suggested the outside linebacker let McCaskey know there were other bidders for his services.

Acho knew McCaskey would leave such negotiations up to general manager Ryan Pace, and he decided to keep quiet.

“I was on the phone with my agent while we were in the same kind of area, and I didn’t say a word (to McCaskey), because I wanted God to be the one who got the glory,” Acho said. “He literally is. This is like a dream come true to get a contract like this in the NFL after getting minimum after minimum after minimum after minimum. My whole career has been minimum.”

At the start of free agency Wednesday afternoon, the Bears announced they were bringing back Acho and cornerback Prince Amukamara, moves that help maintain continuity on a defense that ranked 10th in the NFL in yards allowed per game. After playing on one-year deals with the Bears the last three seasons, Acho received a two-year, $7.5 million contract, with $3 million guaranteed. The 29-year-old let his younger brother Emmanuel break the news on Twitter.

In his third season with the Bears and his seventh in the NFL in 2017, Acho said he felt as if he proved himself to be more than a special teams contributor while starting 12 games. He totaled 45 tackles and three sacks — both his best while with the Bears – and served as a solid part of the team’s run defense.

“I knew I could play, but I finally had to go and prove it on the field,” Acho said. “This new deal, what it means, and even my performance last year, it just feels like a glimpse (of) what I can do. … For me, it was somewhat of a confidence boost. My body is feeling good, mentally strong, physically strong, emotionally strong and ready to go. Last year just pointed to a glimpse of what’s to come.”

Acho, also a vocal leader who serves on the NFLPA executive committee, said he also had interest from the Seahawks, Texans and Rams, among other teams. He said he wanted to go to a team on the rise where he can make an impact on and off the field. He thinks Chicago, with returning defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, fits that bill.

He knows the Bears will add more to an outside linebackers room that includes Leonard Floyd to boost their pass rush and make up for the releases of Willie Young and Pernell McPhee. But he said he’s excited to see what the new group can do.

“We have a lot of room to improve,” Acho said. “We have a lot to build on as well, familiarity. It’s another year of Vic’s defense. … Guys are getting more comfortable, and more than anything we’re at a point where we have a good nucleus of guys who are ready to love one another and care for one another and work for one another.”

Acho said he finally spoke to McCaskey about the deal after it was confirmed.

“I will say when he found out the news, he was one of the happiest people out there for me,” Acho said.

ckane@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribKane

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