The Bears have 'Large' plans for one of their undrafted free agent signings

It is extremely hard to make a 53-man roster after going undrafted, but six former Hawkeyes are attempting to do just that.

Seven Hawkeyes were lucky enough to be drafted, but for the six who weren't, they have uphill climbs to realize their NFL dreams.

Hayden Large is one of those undrafted players trying to stand out, and he is doing so with the Chicago Bears.

Large was a tight end/fullback with the Hawkeyes, and he was never afraid of doing the dirty work or playing wherever they needed him.

The coaching staff raved about his willingness to consistently do the dirty work, and he was an elite blocker at both offensive positions in 2025.

All that hard work has seemingly paid off as Large might have the advantage over the five other Hawkeyes with what Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said about him.

Ben Johnson and the Bears 'have a plan' for Large

You do not often hear a head coach rave about an undrafted free agent signing, but Ben Johnson is all in on Hayden Large.

Johnson recently admitted that Large was a player that the organization had their eyes on before the draft, and he called him to tell him that they have a plan for him.

Johnson also said he appreciates how Large took the long, hard road to earn playing time with Iowa.

This is a huge vote of confidence for Large, but even though Johnson is talking about a plan for him and potentially creating a roster spot, nothing is guaranteed.

The Bears currently have Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, and Sam Roush as the projected top three on the depth chart, not to mention Qadir Ismail and Nikola Kalinic.

It is difficult to see where Large fits in, even if Johnson gave him a vote of confidence.

Large's versatility and williness to block could give him an advantage

Large is a willing blocker and excels at it, but he can also catch the ball.

Before Large joined the Hawkeyes, he spent three seasons at Dordt College and was an effective pass-catcher.

During his three seasons at Dordt, he tallied 62 receptions for 950 yards and 12 touchdowns, which is very productive for a tight end.

At Iowa, he proved he can block at an elite level, and if Johnson says they have a plan for him, he could surpass all expectations and make the 53-man roster.

Johnson didn't elaborate on what the plan for Large is, but as a willing blocker, he could make an immediate impact on special teams, at fullback, or as a redzone target.

The Chicago Bears have championship aspirations, and as Caleb Williams continues to improve, they need to put the right pieces in place to make that happen.

Versatility is the name of the game in the NFL these days, and Large is that with his combination of catching and blocking ability. For him to stick, he must carve out a role as a special teams player or blocking tight end/fullback to give the Bears something they might not have.

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