Chicago Bears tight ends coach Jim Dray enters his third season with the club in 2024.
Dray enters his seventh season overall in coaching, having made additional stops with the Arizona Cardinals (2020-21), Cleveland Browns (2019) and Stanford University (2018).
In his second year coaching the tight ends, Dray's unit saw a career year from fourth-year tight end Cole Kmet. He accounted for 719 receiving yards on 73 catches (9.8 avg.) with six receiving touchdowns. His 719 receiving yards were the second-most among Bears pass-catchers in 2023. On the season, Kmet set career-highs in catches (73) and yards (719). His six touchdowns were his second most in a season in his career (7-2022). Among all tight ends in the NFL in 2023, Kmet ranked tied for second in receiving touchdowns (6), tied for seventh in receptions (73), eighth in first downs (36) and ninth in receiving yards (719). Dating back to the start of the 2000 season among Bears tight ends, Kmet 2023 season ranked second in receptions and third in receiving yards, touchdowns and in first downs (33). All-time among Bears tight ends, Kmet ranks third in receptions (211), and fourth in touchdowns (15), first downs (104) and receiving yards (2,118).Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis also provided leadership to the group in 2023. With his start against the Cardinals, Lewis passed Aaron Rodgers for most the starts by an active player (225). He is one of only three tight ends in NFL history to start 200+ regular season games and post 400+ receptions (436) (Gonzales & Witten). He also ranks first in games played (268) among active players. Against the Falcons in Week 17, Lewis caught his first touchdown of the season and 40th of his career. He had four catches for 29 yards with one touchdown this season in 16 games with four starts.
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.
