(670 The Score) Bears fifth-year tight end Cole Kmet is one of the team's cornerstone players. He’s a respected teammate and a vested veteran captain who has already earned and inked his lucrative second contract.
It all makes the Bears' constant losing difficult for Kmet to accept. The Bears have lost seven straight games – the latest a 38-13 defeat to the 49ers on Sunday – in what has become a familiar scene for Kmet.
The Bears lost six straight games during Kmet’s rookie campaign in 2020. They had a stretch in which they dropped eight out of nine games in 2021. Chicago lost a franchise record 10 straight games to close out the 2022 season, when it went an NFL-worst 3-14. The Bears' 0-4 start derailed any hopes of reaching the postseason in the 2023 season.
The Bears opened this 2024 season with hopes of ascending, but they've lost seven straight games to fall to 4-9, a tailspin that got head coach Matt Eberflus fired on Nov. 29.
Kmet is trying to keep proper perspective during another season of struggles.
“Shoot, for me, it’s been a lot, man,” Kmet said Tuesday. “This isn't easy. For sure, for me, a lot of the individual mental battles, you go through in your head. I feel like I’ve definitely been through a lot here. I've been through my fair share of losing streaks. This is definitely not easy. This has definitely been a mental battle. I’m trying to grind through it from a mental standpoint.
“I know that there’s areas that I look at myself where I got to be better. I got to do a better job. I got to do more on the field. It’s just tough to be in this spot right now, because I've been here before. It’s tough to see things going down the way they have bene. But this is the situation that we’re in and I'm in.
“I had a good talk with my dad the other day about perspectives moving forward. He had a great thing that he said to me — ‘As dark as this might seem in the moment right now, you got to have perspective for what you get to do.’ He was saying he’d give anything to go back and just to play one more game and to be in the shape I’m in right now and to go out and play football. I think that’s kind of the perspective I’m going to have for these last four (games), just enjoy it, be out there with the guys, put some really good stuff out there on tape and just enjoy each other’s company while we go do it.
“It’s been tough, man. It takes a toll on you mentally. You definitely question things about yourself. You got to fight those things. But it’s a hard deal for sure. I just keep that mindset that this type of effort will only make me stronger going forward.”
A native of nearby Lake Barrington, Kmet grew up a Bears fan and his father, Frank, spent parts of three years with the team. Kmet is in the second season of a four-year, $50-million contract with Chicago.
Kmet, 25, has 42 receptions for 448 yards and three touchdowns this season.
The Bears (4-9) will visit the Minnesota Vikings (11-2) on Monday night.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.