Bears assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El is happy to be close to home
Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson made it a happy homecoming for Antwaan Randle El when Johnson brought him along from Detroit as his wide receivers and assistant head coach.
Randle El won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers and also played for Washington, but the south suburbanite is known by a lot of folks in these parts as a three-sport star at Thornton Township High School.
He played basketball and baseball at Thornton Township in addition to football.
Working for the Bears and being closer to family is a dream come true for Randle El.
"I see my parents twice a week. It's been really good. I try to see them more, but it is an hour and 20 minutes, whatever it's away, and with work, it's tough," Randle El said. "It's going to be even tougher when my wife and kids get here, because the kids got games."
Randle El was asked if his folks could drive to him.
"They can drive to me, you know, to the games. But we're going to have stuff at the house like we've always done, you know, but I've got to be careful, because I've got some cousins, and it'll be 6 in the morning, they'll just be knocking at the door," he said. "I still love them the same."
Meanwhile, the Bears will be on the clock one week from Thursday with the 10th pick of the first round in the NFL Draft. In the midst of preparing, General Manager Ryan Poles took care of a local kid with a new contract.
The ink is dry on a two-year contract extension for Lake Villa's TJ Edwards. The linebacker is now signed through the 2027 season for a reported $20 million.
Ahead of the 2023 season, the Bears signed Edwards to a three-year, $19.5 million contract and have liked what they've seen from him the last two seasons. He was entering the final year of the deal and was set to make a base salary of $5.4 million in 2025.
The former Wisconsin Badger has started every game the last two seasons, combining for 284 total tackles, including 170 solo, 14 quarterback hits, 10 passes defended, 6.5 sacks and four interceptions. The 28-year-old finished last season with 129 total tackles, including 79 solo, along with six quarterback hits, a career high four sacks, two fumbles recovered and one forced fumble.
Edwards turns 29 in August.
Earlier this week, the Bears also signed cornerback Kyler Gordon to a three-year, $40 million extension.
Poles had identified a new deal for Gordon as a top priority for the team this offseason, not long after new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen specifically emphasized Gordon's role.
"I think it's obviously a stress off the plate, and you know, it's just allowed me to focus more on the task at hand that we've got for the season; allowed me really to meet the coaches, get in the playbook, and just focus on doing that," Gordon said Tuesday. "That's all I'm really caring about right now."
