Former Bears standout explains what fans should expect from new WR Kalif Raymond — and it shows why Ben Johnson wanted him
Former Chicago Bears standout wide receiver Allen Robinson had high praise for his former Detroit Lions teammate Kalif Raymond, who’s set to reunite with Ben Johnson in 2026.
Trading away veteran DJ Moore was a tough, but necessary, pill to swallow for the Chicago Bears and left a major void in the team’s wide receiver room, something that goes beyond his on-field impact.
After the 2025 season ended, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson commended Moore for his durability and selflessness first. Not the production he had within the offense.
Chicago is set to turn over the keys to two young WRs in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III. But, the team still needed a veteran presence at the position, which led Chicago to sign Kalif Raymond to a one-year deal.
Raymond played five seasons in Detroit, including three years with Johnson as his offensive coordinator. He’s a familiar and trusted face to add to the room. But, fans in Chicago might not know what to fully expect from Raymond in 2026. Allow a former Chicago standout to explain.
Allen Robinson shares high praise for what Kalif Raymond can bring to the Chicago Bears
“First and foremost, Kalif is a phenomenal teammate,” former Bears WR Allen Robinson said on 104.3 The Score. “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… He’s so consistent. 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.”
That is some high praise considering Robinson was in Detroit for just one season with Raymond after leaving the Bears. Raymond made that large of an impact just by doing the right things.
Raymond is entering Year 10 for a reason despite going undrafted out of Holy Cross. He is super consistent with the details and a role model for everyone. It’s easy to see why Johnson and WRs coach Antwaan Randle El fell in love with him in Detroit and brought him along to Chicago as soon as possible.
Will he be as productive as DJ Moore? Unlikely. But, his impact will go beyond the stat sheet as a leader for players like Odunze, Burden, Jahdae Walker, and Zavion Thomas to follow every day.