Over the last few weeks, the growing sentiment around the NFL right now is that Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is about to have a breakout second season in the league.
Bears head coach Ben Johnson just told everyone that even he's bought into the hype around Burden, as he's seen the young playmaker making some incredible, explosive plays in practice. Burden was asked by reporters what he had done this offseason to prepare for his sophomore year in the NFL, and it was quite a simple answer.
“I was just here," Burden said via CHGO's Adam Hoge. "I was just here working, working, working.”
Everyone needs to hop on the Luther Burden hype train ASAP
Burden had a rough start to his rookie season: in four of the first seven games, he posted five yards or fewer and finished with 171 total receiving yards, including 101 in one game. He excelled the rest of the year as he finished fourth on the team in receiving yards with 652 and caught two touchdowns.
Bears got to see glimpses of those explosive plays as both of his touchdowns from 2025 were from 40 yards or longer. Burden has all the tools to make him a great wide receiver in the NFL with the speed he can use to burn corners in the secondary. He has also received praise from multiple people within the organization, including general manager Ryan Poles, regarding Burden's ability to do the dirty work and block.
Going into 2026, Burden will have a larger role in the passing game with DJ Moore traded away to the Buffalo Bills and Olamide Zaccheaus signed elsewhere to the Atlanta Falcons. Rome Odunze appears to still be the number one receiver, but Burden is right behind him.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is known for spreading the ball around, so Burden should get plenty of targets despite Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland being considered his top targets. Chicago will most likely use Burden more than just the screen pass receiver they used him for last year, and send him deep on long routes more often.
Read more: Ben Johnson made his feelings known about Jaylon Johnson being at Bears OTAs
The excitement and buzz are 100% real for Burden, as he appears to be the guy the Bears hoped he would be when they drafted him last year.
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