The Bears scored 24 points and put up 235 yards in the second half of their 34-10 preseason win over the Browns on Saturday. Head coach Ben Johnson revealed after the game that wide receivers coach/assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El called the plays in the second half.
“Has anybody ever had a better first outing than Antwaan Randle El?” quarterback Tyson Bagent said, via Dan Wiederer of TheAthletic.com. “That’s just who he is. He’s always prepared. He knows the ins and outs of the playbook. So really, it was not surprising — at least for us on the sideline.”
Randle El, who turns 47 next week, impressed Johnson and the quarterbacks with the way he handled the call sheet.
“He did a phenomenal job,” Johnson said. “He was part of the quarterbacks’ meeting [Friday] night, and we were talking about what was on the call sheet and their favorites and all that. I think it was a phenomenal experience for him. I know our guys really rallied around that.”
Declan Doyle was the Bears’ offensive coordinator last year, but Johnson called the plays. Thus, Johnson allowed Doyle to leave for Baltimore to become the Ravens’ offensive coordinator and play-caller this season.
The Bears believe Randle El is a rising star in the NFL coaching ranks and destined to run things in the not-too-distant future.
“I know he’s going to be a head coach,” veteran quarterback Case Keenum said. “I think his demeanor in front of the team, his leadership qualities, are top-notch. Some of the best I’ve been around. His relatability to players? I mean, it’s the fact that he’s been there, done that with just about everything. And there’s no, for lack of a better word, ‘coachspeak’ to him. It’s all real.”
Randle El, a former NFL star receiver, followed Johnson from Detroit to Chicago when Johnson was hired by the Bears in 2025.
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