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Kalif Raymond said Ben Johnson is why he joined the Bears.
While the Detroit Lions have made several additions to their roster via free agency and trade so far in the offseason, they’ve also seen their share of departures.
Among the more notable departures are cornerbacks Amik Robertson (Commanders) and Rock Ya-Sin, and edge rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad. Additionally, wide receiver Kalif Raymond also left, but is staying in the NFC North Division.
He joined the Chicago Bears, who are now coached by former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal; the contract also carries multiple financial incentives.
And as Raymond put it, the desire to play once again under Johnson was the main motivating factor as to why he departed Detroit. v
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Former Detroit Lions WR Kalif Raymond Says Ben Johnson Is The Reason He Joined The Bears
When explaining why he joined the Bears, Raymond said that Johnson is the key reason.
“I wanted to play in Ben’s offense,” he said. “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.”
Johnson was happy to welcome Raymond to Chicago, saying that he hopes that attitude and work ethic rub off on the rest of the team.
“I’m hoping how he conducts himself in the locker room and on the practice field is contagious for the rest of our group, and they look to him as a model for what it takes to succeed and have longevity in this league,” Johnson says. “We’ve got a young quarterback (Caleb Williams), Rome Odunze going into his third year, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland going into their second. You need to balance out the youth and energy with a seasoned head, and that’s what ’Lif is.”
Author Dan Pompei also noted that not only the connection to Johnson made Chicago a desirable location for Raymond, but also the knowledge that he would be properly utilized in their offensive scheme.
“The lure to Chicago was opportunity,” Pompei wrote. “The post-Johnson Lions veered to bigger wide receivers and had reduced Raymond’s offensive role. Johnson, however, remembers the wide receiver who was targeted 71 times in 2021 and 64 times in 2022.”
Meanwhile, not long after losing Raymond, the Lions signed former Arizona Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch to a one-year, $1.4 million deal.
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Kalif Raymond Joined The Chicago Bears
A native of Georgia, Raymond attended college at Holy Cross from 2012 to 2015, and was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos, who would eventually cut him.
He spent time with both the New York Jets and New York Giants (two stints) along with the Tennessee Titans before signing with the Lions in 2021; he would eventually be signed to a two-year contract extension to remain in Detroit.
This past season with the Lions, which would be his final year with the club, he set a new franchise record for career punt return yards with 1,485. Additionally, he amassed 289 yards on 24 receptions and a touchdown.
Michael Whitaker Michael Whitaker is a sports journalist based in metro Detroit with nearly a full decade of experience with publications like Clutch Points and The Hockey News. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. More about Michael Whitaker
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