NFL Legend Antwaan Randle El Calls Plays for Bears in Win vs. Browns, HC Ben Johnson Reacts

If the Chicago Bears' offensive performance during Saturday's 34-10 preseason victory over the Cleveland Browns was any indication, wide receivers coach and assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El has quite the future as a play-caller in the league.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin reported head coach Ben Johnson let Randle El take over playcalling duties in the second half of the contest, and the team responded by scoring 24 unanswered points and putting up 235 yards in the commanding victory.

"I thought he did a phenomenal job with [quarterback] Case [Keenum] taking the reins and then transition on over to [quarterback] Miller [Moss] just to see how he was trying to stay in their wheelhouse," Johnson told reporters. "He was part of the quarterback meeting last night, and we were talking about what was on the call sheet and their favorites and all that. And I think it was a phenomenal experience for him, and I know our guys rallied around that as well."

Johnson also added, "Here's the thing about El, I think he's got a chance to be an offensive coordinator in this league. I think he's got a chance to be a head coach in this league. I think he would do a phenomenal job in both those respects, and I don't know if he gets that type of credit around the league right now. So, it's a good opportunity for him to get some recognition."

He wasn't the only one who felt that way, as Keenum told reporters, "I know he's going to be a head coach."

Randle El is a familiar name to football fans considering he was a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington for nine seasons and even helped lead the former to a Super Bowl title.

He has since been on coaching staffs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions and Bears. Johnson, who worked with him in Detroit, brought him to Chicago's coaching staff in his own first season during the 2025 campaign.

All the Bears did in their first season with Johnson leading a staff that also included Randle El was go from last in the league in yards and 28th in points in 2024 to sixth in yards and ninth in scoring.

They made the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season and won a postseason game for the first time since the 2010 campaign.

With quarterback Caleb Williams looking to make another leap with some coaching continuity now in place, it would be anything but surprising if Chicago was once again a playoff contender in the NFC.

And if it is, it will only give Randle El a brighter spotlight for his own coaching career.