Kalif Raymond shares rationale for Lions to Bears free agency exit
Former Detroit Lions wide receiver and return man Kalif Raymond shared his rationale for heading to the Chicago Bears and the Windy City.
As a pending free agent, former Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond opted to head elsewhere. While returning to the franchise he spent the past five seasons with was certainly among his various free agency options, Raymond chose the chance to play for Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, who had been the offensive coordinator in Detroit before taking the lead job in the Windy City before the 2025 campaign. While leaving for an NFC North division rival stings for many Lions fans, Raymond's rationale is rooted in that relationship with Ben Johnson.
“I wanted to play in Ben’s offense,” Raymond said, via Dan Pompei of TheAthletic. com . “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. ” Kalif Raymond: I chose Bears over Lions to play in Ben Johnson's offense. https://t.
co/YXvDTv4zzk — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 28, 2026 With Ben Johnson as his offensive coordinator, Raymond recorded 1,320 receiving yards on 99 grabs with three touchdown receptions during the 2022-24 seasons. For Raymond, the decision is an opportunity to reinvent himself in an offense that might better utilize his skill set. In the one season after Johnson left, Raymond's presence in Detroit's offense was significantly reduced, to the point where the Holy Cross alum was primarily a special teams weapon.