The Chicago Bears are armed with one of the best tight end duos in the NFL with last year’s standout rookie Colston Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet, who played key roles in Chicago’s top-five offense in 2025.
Kmet took a backseat to Loveland in the passing game last season, totaling 30 receptions on 48 targets for 347 yards and two touchdowns, which was his worst output since his rookie year. Meanwhile, Loveland led the Bears in receiving with 58 receptions on 82 targets for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
There’s been plenty of speculation about Kmet’s future with Loveland’s mini-breakout last season, but he remains a crucial component in a Ben Johnson offense that relies on three tight ends. In fact, tight ends coach Jim Dray believes that Kmet doesn’t get the credit that he deserves.
“He has had a lot of success in this league across the board of what it means to be a tight end,” Dray said, via Josh Buckhalter. “That’s run blocking, that’s pass production, and that’s play pass protection. But he knows that he has to be good at all of those things consistently to continue to play. The way he’s been able to do that through the course of his career, like you said, through staff changes and room changes, I don’t think he gets enough credit that he deserves.”
Kmet has been a key part of the offense since arriving in Chicago, where he’s survived three different coaching regimes, two general managers and earned a lucrative contract extension back in 2023. Kmet still has two years left on his current deal, but it’s unclear what the future holds for the hometown kid.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Jim Dray defends Bears TE Cole Kmet’s impact on offense
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
