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Chicago Bears hiring former Detroit WR coach Antwaan Randle El

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•01/24/25
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© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions coaching staff has been raided by numerous franchises across the league. Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson moved onto to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears. And on Friday evening, the Bears poached yet another Lions assistant, making former Detroit wide receiver coach Antwaan Randle El their new assistant head coach and wide receivers’ coach. Randle El will be following Ben Johnson to Chicago. The information was relayed on Friday night by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Before coaching with the Lions, Randle El had a brief stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-2020). As a player with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he won a Super Bowl and was named first team All-Pro in 2005. The dynamic athlete was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team (2002). Randle El was picked in the second round of the 2002 Draft with the 62nd overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A versatile playmaker, Randle El finished his NFL career with 370 catches for 4,467 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. As a return man, he had 4,316 total return yards and six touchdowns. As a quarterback, he threw for 323 passing yards and six touchdowns, while throwing no interceptions.

Antwaan Randle El was a legendary CFB player

During his college football years with the Indiana Hoosiers, Randle El cemented a legendary legacy in Bloomington. Known as one of the more dynamic quarterbacks in college football history, he became the first player in NCAA history to pass for 40 career touchdowns and score 40 career rushing touchdowns. The electrifying playmaker even finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting his senior year there.

Randle El peppered his name all over the record books in Bloomington, ranking second in school history in passing yardage to this day (7,469 passing yards). His 42 career passing touchdowns rank tied for fourth in Indiana football history. As a runner, his 3,895 career rushing yards still rank second in IU football history. And his 44 career rushing touchdowns also rank second in program history.

His 11,364 total offensive yards are the most in Indiana football history and by a significant margin. In second place in that category is Kellen Lewis, who had 8,072 total yards.