The Chicago Bears lost three veterans this offseason — DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay — and signed former Detroit Lions quarterback Kalif Raymond to fill the void behind Rome Odunze Luther Burden III.
Raymond spent time with Ben Johnson during their run with the Detroit Lions, where the Chicago head coach served as Detroit’s coordinator. Raymond will bring veteran experience to a small wide receiver room led by Rome Odunze and Luther Burden, while also adding his experience on special teams, especially as a return player where he had great success in Detroit.
Advertisement
This week at minicamp, Raymond explained in detail what led him to reunite with his former coordinator in Chicago, and why the Bears were a top target in free agency.
1 / 19
Chicago Bears mandatory 2026 minicamp
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) talks with head coach Ben Johnson during Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) talks with head coach Ben Johnson during Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) stretches during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Skyler Thomas (38) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive lineman Jaren Kump stretches out during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson walks the field during the Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive lineman Jaren Kump (64) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
Bears HC Ben Johnson isn’t worried about the NFL getting his offense
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson walks the field during the Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
Kalif Raymond opens up about why Chicago was the place for him
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond (14) runs during the Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson (23) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) warms up during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Caleb Williams (18) looks to pass the ball during the Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Caleb Williams (18) looks to pass the ball during the Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive linemen Jaren Kump (L) and Garrett Bradbury (R) train during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Wayne Matthews III runs with the ball (35) during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears offensive lineman Caden Barnett (76) runs down the field during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift (4) runs with the ball during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
June 9, 2026; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Zavion Thomas (81) passes the ball during Chicago Bears Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
“Listen, if you’ve seen the way Ben works, being able to be around him, work with him, work for him, and all that, man, it’s a blessing,” said Raymond. “But especially in free agency, a lot of those things, you don’t really know what’s coming. You ask my agent like, ‘Hey man, I just want to play football’, some things are like you let it go. But to be here with him, to be with him is a blessing in every aspect. So, I was very happy and very grateful that I had the opportunity to play with him and play with him.”
While he may have been brought in for offensive depth and special teams, Raymond could find himself in a bigger role than expected in Johnson’s case, given their familiarity. Chicago’s upside is that it has two talented young players in Odunze and Burden, but there’s no need for a veteran to step up if needed. And a reunion with Johnson could mean more opportunities for a player who already wants to play football in the 2026 season.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebookand Instagram
This article first appeared on Bears Wire: Kalif Raymond opens up about why Chicago was the place for him.
