The Bears are building something special.
That's the feeling that Devin Duvernay got during his free agent visit to Halas Hall two weeks ago, especially when meeting with first-year coach Ben Johnson. The receiver and return specialist concluded the trip by signing a one-year contract.
"Ben Johnson and the vision he has and what he's trying to build is what excites me," Duvernay told ChicagoBears.com. "He wants people that work, that are about the team, that want to be successful and that see his vision clearly. Talking with him, he just seems very focused, very dialed in, and as a player, that's definitely what you want to see in a coach."
Duvernay joins the Bears after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Ravens (2020-23) and Jaguars (2024).
"He's got timed speed," Johnson said. "He's a low 4.4, 4.3 guy. He was with [Bears pass game coordinator] Press Taylor last year in Jacksonville and we're really encouraged with what we saw on tape."
Selected by Baltimore in the third round of the 2020 draft out of Texas, Duvernay has appeared in 72 NFL games with 25 starts.
The 27-year-old has caught 105 passes for 977 yards and five touchdowns, rushed for 222 yards and one TD on 31 carries, and averaged 12.0 yards on 88 punt returns and 24.9 yards with two touchdowns on 87 kickoff returns.
Duvernay was named to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist in 2021 and 2022 and was chosen first-team All-Pro in 2021 when he led the NFL with a 13.8-yard punt return average.
"Devin is a player that when you look at from afar is just really talented, a really strong runner," said special teams coordinator Richard Hightower. "Obviously, the accolades speak for themselves, what he's been able to do in the league. He's violent, physical and extremely fast, and we're really excited to add him to the mix."
Duvernay hopes to contribute on both offense and special teams with the Bears like he did with the Ravens in 2022 when he set career highs in all receiving categories with 37 catches for 407 yards and three TDs while starting 13 of 14 games played.
Asked what type of player the Bears are getting, Duvernay said: "I would say a physical player, a fast player, a guy that just loves ball. I love special teams. I love playing receiver. I take my job very seriously: blocking, running routes, catching the ball, doing anything I can. I've never been a person that would just label myself as one thing or another. I try to look at it as being able to do all things and try to perfect all things: return game, receiver. I'm not trying to be one dimensional."
