The Chicago Bears had a long snapper competition at the beginning of training camp between Beau Gardner and Luke Elkin, who were both inexperienced and were looking to replace the departed Scott Daly. Just a couple weeks into camp, they decided to waive Elkin, leaving Gardner as the only long snapper on the team.
Gardner is a rookie out of the University of Georgia who also spent time with UCLA. During his two seasons with the Bulldogs from 2024 to 2025, he was a finalist for the Patrick Mannelly award, given annually to college football’s best long snapper. He won the award in 2025.
It may still be a work in progress with the rookie, but special teams coach Richard Hightower is pleased with the progression he has seen from Gardner and is hoping
the Tennessee Titans will challenge him during Chicago’s preseason finale on Saturday night.
"We really did come away with what we wanted to come away with," Hightower said. "We got put in some tough situations and we’re asking the Titans to do the same thing. We want him challenged at all times because that’s what’s going to happen to him in the game. And he showed some things, but he also showed that we need to continue to work on some things. And that’s going to be the case for every player, not just Beau. He held his own. We were happy about that. And then there were some things that I feel like he’ll tell you, ‘Hey, I wasn’t good enough on that.’ So it’s a work in progress."
Hightower has plenty of time to get Gardner ready for the Bears’ season opener on Sept. 13.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Richard Hightower discusses Bears rookie LS Beau Gardner
