He didn't come from a Power Five program or a first-round draft slot. But Kalif Raymond — a product of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA — has become the most popular player on one of the NFL's most scrutinized franchises, according to a new feature from The New York Times.
The piece spotlights Raymond's unlikely ascent to cult-hero status with the Chicago Bears, where the wide receiver has carved out a devoted following despite playing in a system built around bigger names. It's a story that tracks for anyone who watched his trajectory: undrafted, bounced between rosters, and perpetually underestimated — until he wasn't.
Raymond's story is a natural fit for the Bears' fanbase, which has historically embraced grinders over glamour. Whatever the combination of factors — his return ability, his motor, his everyman appeal — the Times found it newsworthy enough to put on the page, and Bears fans have apparently made it undeniable enough to justify the attention.
He's not alone flying the Holy Cross flag in the league this preseason. Teammate Luke Newman, an offensive lineman, is also on the Bears' roster, giving the Crusaders a two-man foothold in Chicago. Newman works in relative anonymity as a guard — the nature of the position — but his presence alongside Raymond means Holy Cross has genuine representation on both sides of the ball's snap.
Elsewhere, Jalen Coker continues to push for a role with the Carolina Panthers at wide receiver, while Liam Anderson (Bengals, LB) and Benton Whitley (Browns, LB) represent the program in the AFC. C.J. Hanson holds a spot on the Chiefs' offensive line as a guard — not a bad address for a player looking to win hardware.
But this week belongs to Raymond. For a program like Holy Cross — a Division I FCS school that doesn't recruit off the same shelf as the Alabamas and Ohio States of the world — producing a player who earns a New York Times feature for being beloved, not just functional, is the kind of validation that matters. It says something about the player. It says something about the program.
Raymond's path is the pitch Holy Cross makes to every recruit who wonders whether the FCS level can get them where they want to go. The answer, apparently, is yes — and it might even get you a fanbase in the process.
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