Khari Lee of the Chicago Bears has given NFL fans in Bermuda a reason to take a keen interest in his games as the 23-year-old tight end has strong Bermuda connections.

Lee, who is 6ft 4in and 235lbs, joined the Bears prior to the start of the season in a trade with the Houston Texans in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round draft pick.

He is the son of Bermudian Challis Lee, formerly of Warwick, and the grandson of Winston and Barbara Lee.

“He was born in Baltimore, his father went to school there,” Winston Lee said. “He came to Bermuda just about every summer.

“He learnt how to swim here and when he got older he would come down for Cup Match and would bring some of his college friends. They liked to rent bikes and travel around the Island. He couldn’t come this year because he was in training, but he was here the year before.”

The Bears signed Lee as tight end cover behind starter Martellus Bennett, waiving tight end Blake Annen to make room on their roster. They traded for Lee as they did not want to risk missing out on him via the waiver claim system.

Lee entered the NFL with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Bowie State in Baltimore. During his college career he played 40 games, compiling 107 receptions for 1,255 yards and four touchdowns.

He then signed with the Texans on May 8 as an undrafted free agent. Last season Lee appeared in ten games and had 34 receptions for a career-high 389 yards and one touchdown.

Lee caught five passes for 71 yards in the preseason for the Texans and is featured in the latest episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” doing a spot on impression of Bill O’Brien, the Texans coach, in front of the entire team.

“With the Bears, hopefully he’s going to do well,” said his proud grandfather, who plans to travel to Tampa to watch a Bears game on December 27.

“He played on Sunday when they came from behind to win 18-17 [over Kansas City Chiefs].”

Challis Lee and his twin brother Craig were sportsmen themselves growing up in Bermuda, attending Saltus and Northlands and playing football for Devonshire Colts and cricket with Warwick. Both now live in Atlanta.

“Both of my boys played in the Western Counties before they went away to live,” Winston Lee said.

“We’ll be in Atlanta and the family will go down to Tampa to see [Khari] play just after Christmas.

“When I see him play I see the name Lee on his jersey and that makes me very proud.”

Proud, too, is Khari’s grandmother Barbara who remembers him as a little boy talking about becoming a football player.

“That was his dream, he would talk about it growing up when he used to come and spend summers with us,” she said.

“He could taste it. I was concerned about him getting injured but I never discouraged my grandchildren, or my sons.

“I let them see what they could do when they became adults and so far he’s done very well.

“I’m very, very proud of him. He’s been an excellent grandson and never caused us any trouble.”

Khari Lee was targeted once in Sunday’s victory over Kansas. The Bears are away at Detroit Lions this weekend, kick-off 2pm, Bermuda time.