LAKE FOREST, Ill., — The Chicago Bears' special teams play improved in 2025, making some key plays down the stretch. Under Richard Hightower, the unit had a solid season and will look to carry that momentum into 2026.
But there will be some changes on that unit, including the returner.
The Bears signed return man and wide receiver Kalif Raymond to a deal, all but ensuring that Devin Duvernay will not return this season. Raymond has familiarity with Ben Johnson and Antawn Randle-El, but what he can bring as a return man could be his most important asset.
"You could say aggressive. I always say I'm aggressive because I trust the guys in front of me and I trust the work we put in," Raymond said. "We do a lot of work during the week, between catching the punts, doing the reps. I trust you. The decision is made. When you give me that look in my eye, I'm not even going to look down, I'm taking this because I trust you guys. You develop that rapport after a while."
While he's been in the league for nine seasons, it's the last five seasons where that aggressiveness has paid off for Raymond.
He's been named an All-Pro returner twice in his career and led the NFL in punt return yards in 2024. He has three punt returns for a touchdown in that span and averaged over 13 yards a return twice. Having that experience on special teams is important and can change a game at any moment.
Raymond is excited to work with Richard Hightower and this Bears' unit.
"They've always had some guys, both back there in the return game, but also in their core unit," Raymond said. "They were always a very, very impressive unit. From a return standpoint, it didn't matter who was back there, you kind of always held your breath because there was always a possibility on tape, like, 'Hey, man, they were this close to breaking one here and there.' When you have guys that pop like that on the unit, it's a testament to the work put in and the details, a lot of little stuff. A lot of respect coming from HT for myself. I'm excited to work with him."
While Raymond has primarily served as a punt returner, he could work in some kickoffs as well. The Bears usually have two guys back there who both can return with the new NFL kickoff rules, so it's more than likely he will have some work there.
"I'm expected to do whatever they ask me to. That's kind of my role for the last few years," Raymond said. "The good thing about the last couple of years, I've been able to kind of round out my game, do a lot of work behind the scenes, to prepare for a really good opportunity. I've always molded myself to wherever the team needs me."
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