Cole Kmet lost his quarterback.
The Bears tight end said he did not participate in Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration after learning from head coach Matt Eberflus that Chicago traded Justin Fields to the Steelers.
“I was planning on going out into town, but I got a call from Fras and the Bears, and after the news, I decided to stay with Justin.” Kmet said. Transcription for “CHGO Bears Podcast” The Span.
“Obviously it was really upsetting that it happened and where it was at that moment, but it made me feel like the writing was on the wall.”
It was a foregone conclusion that Fields would be traded to the Bears, who own the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and are reportedly eyeing USC quarterback Caleb Williams. It doesn’t take away from the human element of the players watching the game. Teammates and sometimes even friends go away.
Kmet, a 2020 second-round pick, played alongside Fields, a 2021 first-round pick, for the past three seasons and had a solid season receiving passes from the former Georgia product.
Last season, he caught a career-high 73 passes for a career-best 719 yards and six touchdowns.
After the team traded Fields to Pittsburgh for a conditional sixth-round pick that would become a fourth-round pick depending on playing time, Kmet was similar while catching passes from the Bears’ future quarterback. I’m trying to leave a mark.
Despite his disappointment, Kmet said it was “classy” for Eberflus to call attention to him.
He’s excited about the Bears’ new future, including the big trade acquisition of former Chargers receiver Keenan Allen.
“I still think this is a really exciting time for the Bears,” Kmet said on the podcast. “It’s a really exciting time right now and it seems like whatever rookie they decide to go with, that’s going to go in that direction, it’s a great opportunity. For a young kid, it’s a great opportunity to come here with the infrastructure in place. What an opportunity to be ready to go and win a football game from the get-go.”
