Jim Dray could become the Bears' next coaching success story

Matt Eberflus didn't do much good during his stint with the Chicago Bears. However, he left the team with tight ends coach Jim Dray on the coaching staff, and that is one of the Bears' most intriguing names on the staff. 

Chicago Bears Tight Ends Coach Jim Dray is Rising Assistant Coach

Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic went through the assistant coaches who are going to get the most recognition in 2026. For the Bears, she listed Dray, who has been with the team since 2022. 

Her reasoning is clear and makes sense. The tight ends might be the most important group on the roster outside of Caleb Williams. 

Other than the quarterback, Bears coach Ben Johnson has made it clear that tight end is the most important element of his layered, explosive offensive system. That especially highlights Dray, whom Johnson retained from the Matt Eberflus-era staff. Dray will be coaching one of the most talented position rooms in the NFL, featuring Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland and rookie third-rounder Sam Roush.Jourdan Rodirgue

Dray has been with the team for the majority of the time that Kmet has spent in the NFL. He was a part of the group that identified and coached Colston Loveland into being a game-changer late in his rookie year. Now, he is going to be responsible for using rookie tight end Sam Roush correctly. 

There were plenty of questions coming out of Chicago when the team took Roush so high in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, they seem set to lean into a tight-end-heavy approach on offense. That means all three having specific roles and usages in the game plan. 

If the Bears tight ends shine in the way many expect, it would be hard for Jim Dray not to see his name get a bit more attention. 

The name that could have gotten the recognition, but it is likely not needed, is Antwaan Randle El. Randle El followed Johnson from the Detroit Lions and has already been getting buzz in circles about potentially being a future head coach. That is why the Bears have him listed as the assistant head coach, as well as the wide receivers coach. 

If a team wants to poach him, they have to name him head coach. Still, after working with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, Randle-El is now working with Luther Burden and Rome Odunze. Both had strong years in 2025. Burden really came on at the end of the year. 

He is a highly regarded coach, and he is coaching two well-known breakout candidates. It is easy to think that Randle El would be the coach from the Bears staff that starts to get head coaching talk in the next year or so. 

Jim Dray might go from unknown to known, but Randle El is the name that could become well known.

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This article was originally published on dawindycity.com as Jim Dray could become the Bears next coaching success story.