Cole Kmet Bio
Cole Kmet (born March 10, 1999) is an American professional football tight end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before being selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft. Listed at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and 257 lb (117 kg), he wears jersey number 85 and is recognized as a versatile two-way tight end who can block and contribute as a receiver.
Beyond football, Kmet was also a talented college baseball pitcher at Notre Dame, a background he has occasionally referenced in his end-zone celebrations. As of 2025, he stands as the longest-tenured member of the Bears roster, continuing a career that bridges family football lineage and his own evolving role as a team leader.
Early Life and Background
Cole Kmet was born on March 10, 1999, in Lake Barrington, Illinois. He grew up in the Chicago suburbs and attended St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he played both baseball and football. As a senior, he posted 48 receptions for 773 yards and four touchdowns, enough to earn an invitation to the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
His family has clear ties to professional football: his father, Frank Kmet, was selected in the 1992 NFL draft, while his uncle, Jeff Zgonina, played in the NFL. Kmet is of Polish descent through his mother. He grew up a devoted Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan, foreshadowing both his professional destination and his lasting love of baseball.
Before the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, Kmet worked out with the Chicago White Sox, illustrating the two-sport profile he carried into college. He ultimately committed to the University of Notre Dame, choosing football but planning to keep playing baseball as well.
Path to American Football
Kmet arrived at Notre Dame in 2017 as a highly regarded tight end recruit who could also pitch out of the bullpen. As a true freshman football player that fall, he played in all 13 games and recorded two receptions for 14 yards while adjusting to the college level. The following season, his sophomore year in 2018, he appeared in 11 games and grew into a larger receiving role with 15 catches for 162 yards.
His junior year in 2019 marked a turning point. After missing the first three games with a broken collarbone, he took over as the starting tight end and announced in November that he would return to Notre Dame for his senior season. On January 2, 2020, however, he reversed course and declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, where CBS Sports ranked him as the best tight end in the class and Pro Football Focus ranked him second.
On draft night, the Chicago Bears selected him in the second round with the 43rd overall pick, a selection previously acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders as part of the package that brought Khalil Mack to Chicago. He signed a four-year rookie contract on July 21, 2020.
Cole Kmet Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Kmet’s development years split between the gridiron and the diamond at Notre Dame. On the football field, he steadily increased his production, going from a sparingly used freshman to the starting tight end by his third college season. He finished his junior year with a clear comfort level as both a blocker and a pass catcher, traits that fueled his rising draft stock.
On the baseball side, Kmet served primarily as a relief pitcher. As a freshman in 2018, he appeared in 26 games with one start, finishing 2–5 with a 5.05 earned run average, 39 strikeouts, and a team-leading eight saves. His sophomore baseball season in 2019 was cut short by an arm injury, after which he went 0–2 with a 2.89 ERA and 27 strikeouts in eight appearances.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Kmet opened his rookie season in 2020 as a blocker. In Week 2 against the New York Giants, he hauled in his first NFL reception, a 12-yard catch, and later that year against the Carolina Panthers he grabbed his first touchdown on a nine-yard pass in a 23–16 victory. The campaign gave him a foundation to build on.
In 2021, Kmet played all 17 games and finished with 60 receptions for 612 yards, a noticeable jump in volume even though he did not catch a touchdown that season. The arrival of new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy in 2022 unlocked more routes for Kmet, who was lined up wide, in the slot, and on the line of scrimmage. He responded with 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Bears in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Chicago Bears Era (2023–Present)
On July 26, 2023, the Bears signed Kmet to a four-year, $50 million contract extension, locking him in as a core piece of the offense. That season he played all 17 games and posted 73 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns, while also occasionally taking direct snaps as a quarterback on short-yardage plays.
In 2024, his production dipped to 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, and he was targeted a career-low 55 times amid broader offensive struggles. A bright spot came on October 13, 2024, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when he caught five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns and also served as the emergency long snapper after Scott Daly’s knee injury, an effort that earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Entering 2025, Kmet remained the starting tight end ahead of first-round rookie Colston Loveland and was the longest-tenured Bear on the roster. He missed the Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens with a back injury but returned the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he took a direct snap on a trick play before exiting with a concussion. In the divisional round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught a fourth-down, game-tyying touchdown from Caleb Williams with 27 seconds left, though Chicago ultimately fell 20–17 in overtime.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kmet’s value comes from his positional flexibility. He can line up on the line as an in-line blocker, flex into the slot, or split out wide, allowing the Bears to create mismatches against both linebackers and smaller defensive backs. His large frame and willingness in the run game give him credibility as a blocker, while his route-running and catch radius have made him a trusted target in the red zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Kmet’s career are his first NFL touchdown against Carolina in 2020, his career-best 73 receptions in 2023, and the 2024 NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for his hybrid work as a tight end and emergency long snapper. His 2025 divisional-round catch against the Rams, which forced overtime before Chicago’s exit, stands as one of the most dramatic moments of his career so far.
Cole Kmet Career Wins
Cole Kmet’s statistical résumé reflects steady growth rather than trophy-laden accolades. Through the 2025 season he has accumulated 288 receptions for 2,939 receiving yards and 21 receiving touchdowns, numbers he has built while serving as a featured tight end and blocker for the Bears.
Chicago Bears Highlights
Kmet has played all or most of every season since his rookie year, missing only sporadic games due to injury. His single-season high in catches came in 2023 with 73, while his best year for receiving yards was the same campaign with 719. He set a personal best with seven touchdown catches in 2022, when he led Chicago in receptions, yards, and scores through the air.
In the postseason, his most memorable moment arrived in January 2026 against the Los Angeles Rams, when his game-tying fourth-down touchdown forced overtime in the divisional round.
Other Performances
On the baseball diamond at Notre Dame, Kmet appeared in 34 career games as a pitcher, finishing with a 2–7 record, a 4.37 earned run average, and 66 strikeouts, including a team-leading eight saves as a freshman in 2018. Those numbers underscore the two-sport athleticism that has shaped his professional identity, including his home-run-mimicking touchdown celebration.
Cole Kmet Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Cole Kmet comes from a family with deep football roots. His father, Frank Kmet, was selected in the 1992 NFL draft, though he never appeared in an NFL game, and his uncle, Jeff Zgonina, played in the NFL. Through his mother, Kmet is of Polish descent. He grew up cheering for his hometown Bears and the Chicago Cubs, ties that have endured throughout his career.
Personal Life
Kmet remains closely connected to his Chicago-area roots and to the Bears organization that drafted him. He is active on social media, where fans can follow his career and off-field interests, including his love of baseball.
2025 Season Performance
Kmet entered the 2025 season as Chicago’s starting tight end and the longest-tenured player on the roster, a sign of both his durability and his standing inside the building. The Bears’ decision to draft Colston Loveland in the first round briefly surprised Kmet, though new head coach Ben Johnson assured him the rookie would complement, rather than replace, his role.
His regular season included a brief absence with a back injury in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, and a concussion sustained during a Week 9 trick play against the Cincinnati Bengals. Even with reduced targets compared to 2023, Kmet remained a key red-zone option and a trusted blocker on early downs.
The postseason gave him one of the defining plays of his career, a fourth-down, game-tying touchdown against the Rams in the divisional round, although the Bears ultimately fell 20–17 in overtime. With his contract running through 2027, Kmet’s outlook in Chicago centers on continuing as a versatile leader and red-zone presence alongside Loveland.
