Tight ends coach Jim Dray enters his second season with the Bears in 2023.
Dray enters his sixth season overall in coaching, having made additional stops with the Arizona Cardinals (2020-21), Cleveland Browns (2019) and Stanford University (2018).
Dray completed his first season as the Bears tight ends coach in 2022, where he aided in the development of third-year tight end Cole Kmet, who finished the season with a career-best seven touchdown receptions -- tied for the third-most among all tight ends in the NFL. Kmet's seven touchdowns were also the fourth-most touchdown receptions by a Bears tight end in a single season. He also led the team in receiving yards, totaling 544 yards on 50 catches (10.9 avg.).
Prior to his arrival in Chicago, Dray completed his second season in Arizona in 2021 as an offensive quality control coach. The Cardinals finished 11-6 during the 2021 season, good for second in the NFC West, and earned an NFC wild card berth. The Cardinals' offense finished fifth in the NFC in points per game (26.4) and fourth in yards per game (373.6).
Dray began his coaching career at his alma mater, Stanford, as an offensive assistant in 2018 prior to working as an offensive quality control coach with the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
An eight-year NFL veteran, Dray was selected by the Cardinals in the seventh round (233rd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He also played with Cleveland (2014-15), Buffalo (2016) and San Francisco (2016). He appeared in 94 career games (38 starts) and finished his career with 56 receptions for 605 yards (10.8 avg.) and three touchdowns.
Dray started 39 career games at Stanford and had 41 receptions for 455 yards and seven touchdowns, earning second-team All-Pac 10 honors as a senior while helping the Cardinal finish 11th in the nation in rushing yards per game that season (218.2).
A native of Paramus, N.J., Dray was named first team All-Bergen County, All-North New Jersey, all-league, as well as second-team All-State as a junior and senior at Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J). High School. He finished his prep career with 66 receptions for 786 yards and five touchdowns, earning MVP honors in the 2003 state championship game.
Dray and his wife, Kelly, have a daughter, Leighton.
