CHICAGO -- An unexpected source brought the horsepower to the Bears' 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday.
Bears wide receivers coach/assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El was handed playcalling duties for the second half of Chicago's preseason opener by coach Ben Johnson. The result was 24 unanswered points, 12 first downs and 235 yards as the Bears blew out the Browns at Soldier Field.
"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 said. "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."
Randle El, a nine-year NFL wide receiver with Pittsburgh and Washington, has coached with Johnson since the two crossed paths in Detroit. He impressed Johnson and players alike with his game plan for the second half and how he and put multiple offensive units in position to score.
"I know he's going to be a head coach," Keenum said. "I think his demeanor in front of the team, his leadership qualities, are top-notch. Some of the best I've been around. His relatability to players? I mean, it's the fact that he's been there, done that with just about everything. And there's no, for lack of a better word, 'coach speak' to him. It's all real."
Added quarterback Tyson Bagent: "Has anybody ever had a better first outing than Antwaan Randle El? That's just who he is. He's always prepared. He knows the ins and outs of the playbook. So really, it was not surprising, at least for us on the sideline."
This is the second straight preseason where Johnson had allowed one of his assistants to take over calling plays for the offense, and Randle El might not be the last. Johnson said postgame that he might experiment with letting other Bears coaches call plays in the preseason.
That's what he did in 2025 for Declan Doyle, who was Johnson's offensive coordinator during his inaugural season in Chicago. While Doyle did not call plays during the regular season, Johnson allowed his former OC to do so in preseason games. Doyle is now the offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, where he will call his own offense this season.
That's something Johnson believes Randle El is capable of doing in the future.
"Here's the thing about El, I think he's got a chance to be an offensive coordinator in this league," Johnson said. "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."