Latest news with #Kmet
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cole Kmet Reacts to Bears Drafting Colston Loveland in First Round
Cole Kmet Reacts to Bears Drafting Colston Loveland in First Round originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Position battles are heating up across the Chicago Bears roster, but one situation in particular stands out in the tight end room. With mandatory mini camp underway, one veteran didn't hide his reaction to a major organizational decision. After five seasons with the Bears, including a leadership role on and off the field, he found himself in unfamiliar territory after a high-profile draft move signaled a shift in strategy. Advertisement Cole Kmet, the five-year veteran tight end drafted in the second round back in 2020, was candid when asked about the Bears' decision to select Colston Loveland 10th overall in this year's draft. Kmet's comments came after the first day of mini camp and were shared by Dave, Senior NFL Writer for SM, on X (formerly Twitter). 'I think at first you're taken aback a little bit,' Kmet admitted. 'But Ben [Johnson] was awesome about it in terms of calling me right away and kind of explaining the decision. From there, you're just all on board on it.' He continued: 'You understand that there's going to be areas where we complement each other, and then there's obviously… areas where we compete for things. And that's football and that's how it should be.' 'The goal with it is to become the best 12-tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there.' Last season, Kmet posted 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns—a noticeable drop from prior years. Meanwhile, Loveland, though currently recovering from shoulder surgery, arrives as a mismatch nightmare out of Michigan, known for his route-running and after-catch ability. Ben JohnsonGetty Images If the Bears' vision pans out, the pairing could become one of the most dangerous tight end duos in the league. The added competition should elevate both players—something the new coaching staff under Ben Johnson is clearly counting on. Advertisement Related: Chicago Bears Rookie Shakes Up Competition, Major Role Within Reach Related: Chicago Bears Named Potential Landing Spot for Pro Bowl Running Back This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cole Kmet says Bears will have to meet Ben Johnson's expectations
Cole Kmet says Bears will have to meet Ben Johnson's expectations In the days that have followed since Ben Johnson was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, players on the team have expressed their excitement for their new coach. One marquee player of the Bears offense who figures to get more involved in 2025 with Johnson at the helm is tight end Cole Kmet, who had little opportunity this past season in a very disappointing outing. Giving his first thoughts to the hiring of Johnson, Kmet stated recently that he believes the coaching move shows the team is in "win now" mode, and has plenty of excitement over his new head coach. Appearing on "CHGO Bears Podcast," where he also hosts his own "The Eighty Five Podcast," Kmet explained what excites him about Johnson, while also saying that the arrival of their new coach will mean the players have to step up and raise their standards. "What he's done has been shown the past few years in Detroit and throughout his coaching career," Kmet said of his coach's resume. "It's really exciting stuff and like I said, it's going to be on us to elevate our level, our play, and meet his expectations for what he wants on the offense." The Bears locker room seemed to have a major disconnect with their former head coach Matt Eberflus throughout the 2024 season, but now with Johnson's persona and credibility, the tone has changed in a big way. With Johnson now the head coach, there's a level of not only excitement, but an understanding that the players will have much higher standards and expectations to meet next season.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cole Kmet believes Ben Johnson hiring shows team is ready to win now
Cole Kmet believes Ben Johnson hiring shows team is ready to win now There's been an exuberant energy surrounding the Chicago Bears franchise since the hiring of head coach Ben Johnson, and it may be most felt by the players on the roster. Considered the best offensive minded play caller in the NFL over the past few seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Johnson's arrival has injected life into the Bears offense, including tight end Cole Kmet. Following his new coach being introduced, Kmet appeared on 670 the Score and was asked about his initial thoughts of Johnson's hiring, and the talented tight end believes his new coach shows that the franchise is taking a "win now" attitude, and there will be a high bar of standards in the building. "It's a sign that we're trying to win and trying to win now," Kmet said "... It's very exciting. The bar here is going to be very high." There was plenty of disappointment for the Bears this season -- including a 5-12 record and a 10-game losing streak -- and offensively there may have not been anyone with a bigger disappointing season than Kmet. Not much to his own fault, Kmet was only targeted a rather confusing 55 times in the 2024 season, his lowest total since he received 44 targets in his rookie season. In three of his five seasons with the Bears, Kmet had not seen less than 69 targets, and his usage in the offense this past season felt like one of the many downfalls to the team's success. It will be quite interesting to see how Johnson uses Kmet moving forward with the offense, seeing how in Detroit, Sam LaPorta made a Pro Bowl and was a second-team All Pro in his rookie season. If put in the right situation, Kmet could not only become a productive part of the Bears offense again, but could put himself in the conversation among the best tight ends in the league working in his new head coach's offense.
