NFL
Cole Kmet stuns Chicago Bears fans by making history in London after key injury
Cole Kmet had a day in London.
The Chicago tight end collected two receiving touchdowns before halftime.
Then he did more.
After Bears longsnapper Scott Daly was lost for the game due to an injury, Chicago was forced to call on its backup snapper.
Enter Kmet, again.
The fifth-year pro caught a TD pass from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, then Kmet stayed on the field — as the Bears’ longsnapper.
A successful snap, hold and kick gave Chicago another point.
As the Bears entered halftime at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a 14-3 lead, Kmet had two TDs and had played a key role in two extra points.
“He might be the first man in history to have two touchdowns and two snaps,” Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said on NFL Network.
Kmet practices snaps weekly.
But it was an exceptionally rare sight during an NFL game to see a tight end catch a TD, then set up a kicker and holder with a snap.
“Cole Kmet is the first long snapper in NFL history to score two touchdowns in a half. (Yes, you read that correctly),” @PeteByrneSports tweeted.
Kmet was also praised by former NFL punter and current ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
“COLE KMET IS AN ABSOLUTE DAWG,” McAfee tweeted. “A throwback.. a stud.. a beast.. A FOOTBALL PLAYER.”
Kmet was previously asked about his backup role, and joked about having to go in a real game.
“If some s*** happens, I’m going in, which is like terrifying,” Kmet said.
On Sunday at Tottenham, he caught TD passes for 31 and 2 yards.
Then some s*** happened, and the Bears tight end made history in London.
“I LOVE IT,” one fan tweeted.
“Foreshadowing at its finest,” a second fan posted.
“He is doing a great job,” a third fan wrote.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kmet went 5-for-5 on successful snaps as the Bears took a commanding 35-16 lead.
Elsewhere, Louis Rees-Zammit chatted with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.