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          Bears TE Cole Kmet makes spectacular grab for 18-yard TD

          • Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff WriterNov 5, 2023, 06:35 PM
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              Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.

          NEW ORLEANS --- Cole Kmet's strong season continued on the Chicago Bears' opening drive of Week 9 with what may go down as the best catch of his career.

          After winning the coin toss and electing to receive Sunday, the Bears' offense averaged 8.3 yards per play as Chicago marched down the field inside Caesars Superdome. In his third straight start, rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent found his tight end for an 18-yard touchdown off a bootleg play.

          Bagent took advantage of the matchup with Kmet, who is 6-foot-6, being blanketed in coverage by 5-9 safety Tyrann Mathieu. Kmet reached over Mathieu to haul in the touchdown pass and give the Bears a 7-0 lead after the extra point.

          Kmet had 0.8 yards of separation on the play, which is his career-tightest window on a touchdown catch of his career -- with the other coming back in Week 6 of his rookie year in 2020 against the Carolina Panthers.

          Kmet would add a second touchdown early in the second quarter, a 9-yard score for this fifth of the season -- which is tied for the most with receiver DJ Moore.