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). Standing about 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing roughly 260 pounds, he has developed into one of the most reliable pass-catching tight ends in the Bears offense. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and entered the NFL after his junior season, when the Chicago Bears selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Since arriving in Chicago, Cole Kmet has steadily grown into a multi-year starter and a central figure in the team’s passing game. He has produced multiple seasons of strong reception totals and became one of the league’s higher-paid tight ends after signing a long-term contract extension with the Bears. He is also recognized for his versatility, contributing as a blocker, a receiver, and on occasion as an emergency long snapper.
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 developed into a multi-sport athlete. Kmet played both baseball and football during his high school years, with football ultimately becoming his primary path forward.
As a senior, Kmet posted 48 receptions for 773 yards and four touchdowns, establishing himself as one of the top tight end prospects in the region. He was selected to play in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, an honor typically reserved for the country’s most highly recruited high school football players. Following that appearance, he committed to the University of Notre Dame to continue his football career at the college level.
Path to American Football
Cole Kmet arrived at Notre Dame as a true freshman in 2017 and immediately cracked into the tight end rotation. He played in all 13 games during that first season, recording two receptions for 14 yards while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game. As a sophomore in 2018, he appeared in 11 games and grew into a larger role, finishing the year with 15 receptions for 162 yards.
Kmet’s junior season in 2019 marked his real breakthrough. Although a broken collarbone kept him out of the first three games, he returned to take over as Notre Dame’s starting tight end and emerged as a key part of the Irish offense. In November 2019, he announced he would return for his senior season, but he reversed course on January 2, 2020, declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft. National evaluators took notice, with CBS Sports ranking him as the best tight end in the draft class and Pro Football Focus listing him as the second-best, with most analysts projecting him as a second-round pick.
Cole Kmet Career
Early Career (2020)
The Chicago Bears selected Cole Kmet in the second round with the 43rd overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, a choice acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders. He signed a four-year rookie contract on July 21, 2020, and began his professional career primarily as a blocker, a common path for young tight ends adjusting to NFL defensive fronts. Kmet’s first NFL reception came in Week 2 against the New York Giants, a 12-yard catch that gave an early glimpse of his receiving potential.
His first NFL touchdown followed four weeks later in a 23–16 victory over the Carolina Panthers, a nine-yard reception that capped a developmental rookie season. While his overall statistics in 2020 were modest, the experience laid the foundation for an expanded offensive role heading into his second year.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Cole Kmet took a significant step forward in 2021, appearing in all 17 games for the Bears and finishing the season with 60 receptions for 612 yards. The heavy workload showed the Bears’ growing trust in his ability to handle a full complement of routes and responsibilities, even as he did not record a receiving touchdown that year. New offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was outspoken about Kmet’s versatility, noting the team had lined him up wide, split out as a receiver, attached in tight, and used him in-line as a blocker.
In 2022, Cole Kmet delivered his first true breakout season. He recorded 50 receptions for 544 yards and seven touchdowns, leading the Bears in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. The performance cemented him as Chicago’s top pass-catching tight end and a centerpiece of the passing game.
Chicago Bears Era (2023–Present)
On July 26, 2023, Cole Kmet signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with the Bears, a clear signal that the franchise viewed him as a long-term building block. He responded with another full season, appearing in all 17 games and finishing 2023 with 73 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns. The production gave him back-to-back strong years and reinforced his value as both a safety valve for the quarterback and a red-zone target.
The 2024 season added another chapter to his résumé. On October 13, 2024, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kmet caught five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. When starting long snapper Scott Daly suffered a knee injury in that same game, Kmet stepped in as the emergency long snapper and handled six long snaps cleanly, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the unique performance. He closed the 2024 season with 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cole Kmet’s game is built on positional versatility and dependable hands. Coaches have used him in a variety of alignments, from in-line blocking against defensive ends to split-out receiver work on the perimeter. His size and length make him a difficult matchup in the red zone, while his blocking ability keeps him on the field in short-yardage and run-heavy situations. That combination of skills has made him a central piece of the Bears’ offensive game plan.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his statistical production, Cole Kmet’s standout moments include his first NFL touchdown against the Panthers, his 2022 season leading the Bears in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns, and his emergency long-snapping performance against the Jaguars in 2024. The contract extension signed in 2023 also stands as a defining career milestone, reflecting his importance to the franchise.
Cole Kmet Career Wins
Cole Kmet’s career milestones are defined more by production and consistency than by championship hardware. Across his NFL seasons, he has been a reliable starter, a top target in Chicago’s passing game, and a player whose role has expanded in each of his first five professional years. He is also a former second-round draft pick and a Pro Bowl-caliber performer who has earned a major long-term contract extension.
Chicago Bears Highlights
During his Chicago Bears tenure, Cole Kmet has played in every regular-season game across multiple seasons, including full 17-game campaigns in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. His 2022 season produced 50 receptions, 544 yards, and seven touchdowns, a year that established him as a featured pass-catcher. In 2023, he posted 73 receptions for 719 yards and six touchdowns, setting the stage for his four-year, $50 million contract extension later that summer.
Other Wins & Performances
In high school, Cole Kmet earned selection to the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, a marquee honor for top senior prospects. At Notre Dame, he earned the starting tight end role as a junior in 2019, and in the NFL he has been recognized with NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his emergency long-snapping performance against the Jaguars in 2024.
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 but never appeared in a regular-season NFL game. His uncle, Jeff Zgonina, played in the NFL and built a long professional career on the defensive line. Cole Kmet is of Polish descent through his mother, a heritage he has referenced in interviews and public appearances.
Personal Life
Cole Kmet grew up in the Chicago suburbs and continues to be closely tied to the region where he was raised. He played both baseball and football at St. Viator High School, and he also pitched as a relief pitcher during his early years at Notre Dame before fully focusing on football. His family connections to the NFL, through both his father and his uncle, helped shape his understanding of the professional game.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Cole Kmet remains a key component of the Chicago Bears offense under the terms of his four-year contract extension signed in 2023. The Bears are expected to continue using him in a versatile role that takes advantage of his size, hands, and blocking, with the coaching staff confident in his ability to line up across the formation. He enters the year coming off a 2024 campaign in which he produced 47 receptions, 474 yards, and four touchdowns while adding value on special teams.
With continuity on the offensive staff and an established role in the passing game, Kmet’s outlook for 2025 is built on steady production rather than a single breakthrough moment. The Bears will likely lean on him as a chain-moving target on early downs and as a red-zone presence, while also trusting him as an emergency option at long snapper. If he can match or build on the 70-plus-reception form he showed in 2023, he has a strong chance to finish the year among the most productive tight ends in the NFC.