Former Bears star confirmed what Kalif Raymond will bring to the table

When the Chicago Bears signed wide receiver Kalif Raymond, the fit was easy to see. He had history with head coach Ben Johnson and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El from four seasons together with the Detroit Lions, and as replacements for departing punt returner Devin Duvernay go, a two-time Second Team All-Pro returner like Raymond is as good as it gets.

With his role in the Detroit offense on a downhill trend over the last couple of seasons, coming to Chicago also gives Raymond an opportunity to have a notable role in Johnson's offense, and the Bears' head coach confirmed as much in comments to Dan Pompei of The Athletic.

"Is he going to be a 1,000-yard receiver?” Johnson said. “No. But I think he’s capable of a bigger role in our offense than what he had a year ago.”

While Lions' wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown's after-practice jugs machine routine has become well-known, Raymond was usually alongside him doing the same. Upon news of his departure to the Bears, St. Brown called Raymond the "greatest teammate I've ever had."

Allen Robinson confirms the core of what Kalif Raymond brings to the Bears

In four seasons as a Bear (2018-2021), former NFL wide receiver Allen Robinson topped 1,100 yards twice. He spent the final season of his career, 2024, back in his hometown playing for the Lions.

Robinson was a guest on 104.3 The Score's "Rahimi and Harris." Co-host Leila Rahimi asked him about Raymond, based on that season where he had an up-close look.

"First and foremost, Kalif is a phenomenal teammate,” Robinson said. “From the time I stepped in that locker room in Detroit, (he was) fully supportive. A guy who, he’d give you the shirt off his back if you don’t have one and you need one. I think that’s first and foremost is his presence in the locker room."

“But, also, his ability to go out there and work. Kalif is an extremely hard worker."

Robinson talked about Raymond's background, coming out of Holy Cross as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and being cut by multiple teams before he found a home in Detroit in 2021. But ultimately, it's about what he brings to the table for the Bears right now.

"He’s so consistent", Robinson continued. "The number one thing, for me, that sticks out when it comes to Ben Johnson-involved rosters is consistency. I think that’s a huge part of Kalif Raymond’s game is, on a consistent basis, you know what you’re going to get from him. A guy who can run routes, a guy who’s going to stick his nose in the run game, a guy that’s going to be the first one to the fight, and who has a motor like no other when it comes to play in and play out.”

Led by Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, the Bears' wide receiver depth chart is filled with youth. So a veteran tone setter like Raymond will have an impact beyond the stat sheet, showing the young guys how to work and pushing them to be better every day.

Read more: Bears quickly narrowed to 2 options with No. 25 pick (and the choice became easy)

What Raymond can do as a punt returner and a contributing piece of the Bears' offense should not be dismissed. But as Johnson's efforts to replicate the culture he came from in Detroit in Chicago, there's no better way to fully engrain it than to reunite with one of the poster boys of that Lions' culture.

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