The Cincinnati Bengals signed free agent defensive end Michael Johnson to a four-year contract Sunday.

The 6-foot-7, 270-pound Johnson, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Bengals, played 79 games with 45 starts in Cincinnati from 2009-13.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released Johnson last week, just one year after signing him to a five-year, $43.8 million contract.

Johnson was designated as the Bengals’ franchise player for 2013, after logging 11.5 sacks and an interception in 2012. In 2013, he led the Bengals’ defensive line in tackles (74) and had 33 quarterback pressures with 3.5 sacks.

Johnson went to Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2014 and weathered some injury problems while playing in 14 games with 13 starts. He had four sacks and two forced fumbles for the Bucs, who released him last week.

“Our entire organization is just ecstatic about getting Mike back,” Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. “He’s earned tremendous respect from coaches, teammates and management. He did tremendous things for us while he was here, and we look forward to having him blend back in and uplift us as defensive football team.”

Johnson played in 79 of a possible 80 regular-season games with the Bengals, and he also played in all four Cincinnati postseason games during his first time with the team. He had 26.5 sacks and 27 passes defensed with the Bengals.