WR Kalif Raymond
Getty
WR Kalif Raymond
Veteran wide receiverKalif Raymond leftDetroit for one reason, and it’s the exact reasonChicago Bears fans should feel very, very good about where this team is headed.
“I wanted to play in Ben’s offense,” Raymond said,via Dan Pompei of The Athletic. “He’s extraordinarily creative, and honestly, you can be in any spot on the offense, and he will find a way to get you the ball. Just to be under him is a great privilege.”
Raymond had similar offers from the Lions and the Bears.Seattle andSan Francisco were also in the mix. But when it came down to the final decision, he chose Chicago.
“He will find a way to get you the ball”
WR Kalif Raymond
GettyWR Kalif Raymond
Kalif Raymond is a two time All-Pro returner. He holds the Lions’ franchise record for punt return yards, runs a 4.34, and can play receiver and special teams.
Ben Johnson remembers the Raymond who was targeted 71 times in 2021 and 64 times in 2022. The Lions, post-Johnson, shifted toward bigger receivers and Raymond’s offensive role shrank.
Because of this, Ben Johnson sees a bigger role for Raymond with the Bears than the Lions did last season. That should matter to fans because it shows Johnson already has a clear vision for how he’s going to use pieces that other teams overlooked.
“He’s extraordinarily creative,” Raymond said of Johnson, “and honestly, you can be in any spot on the offense, and he will find a way to get you the ball. Just to be under him is a great privilege.”
When Raymond met with Ben Johnson at Halas Hall, he told him something that sealed the deal: “My favorite day of the season is the first day of pads.”
The Chicago Bears already have a young core withCaleb Williams,Rome Odunze,Luther Burden III,Colston Loveland, andKyle Monangai.
Ben Johnson specifically wanted a veteran who could show them what NFL preparation actually looks like. Raymond is that example.
This is a player who catches 205 balls after every practice because he once met a kid who caught 200 and decided he had to beat him by five.
A player who fields 30 extra punts a day in camp. A player who blocks safeties like a tight end at 5’8”, 180 pounds because, in his words: “I guarantee my will is going to be stronger than yours.”
This wasn’t the Lions letting him walk
WR Kalif Raymond
GettyWR Kalif Raymond
Here’s the part Chicago Bears fans will love… The Detroit Lions wanted him back.
This wasn’t them just moving on from Kalif Raymond. They made a commensurate offer. He had emotional ties there. He spoke with Amon-Ra St. Brown before deciding. There were tears. And he still chose Chicago.
Because he believes Ben Johnson’s offense will use him better than the Lions did. Because he believes the Bears are building something worth being part of. And because he believes opportunity in Chicago is greater than comfort in Detroit.
And that says more than any contract number ever could.