The Chicago Bears are apparently such big fans of Notre Dame football’s rep as “Tight End U” that they’re looking to build their entire tight end group from South Bend.
Cole Kmet has already been a solid player for the NFL franchise for years. He’s someone who has seen his role grow and change over the years and could be really big should the team get some competent quarterback play. Now he’s getting another Irish star added to the team as his backup and possible teammate on the line when the Bears go to two-tight end sets.
Durham Smythe hasn’t had the same kind of NFL career as his fellow Notre Dame football alum, but he’s good enough that the Bears felt he was worth giving a one-year contract. Depth behind Kmet has been an issue for some time. Gerald Everett's release last month after a disappointing 2024 campaign and Marcedes Lewis hitting free agency, the Bears needed to add a body at the tight end position. Durham was the pick.
Ex-Notre Dame football star Durham Smythe gets another NFL life with Chicago Bears
Smythe spent his first seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins before the club released him last month. The former Irish star appeared in all 17 games for Miami in 2024, catching nine passes for 53 yards.
He was on the field for 32 percent of offensive snaps and 30 percent of special teams snaps. In 112 career NFL games with 74 starts, Smythe has tallied 132 receptions for 1,228 yards with three touchdowns.
Smythe played with the Notre Dame football team from 2014-2017. In that time he tallied 28 receptions for 381 yards (13.6 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns. He played alongside Kmet for one season in 2017. That year was Smythe’s best career year catching 15 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.