Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 86 Days with Marty Booker

Marty Booker Sets Franchise Records with Chicago Bears

Upon joining the Bears, Booker began his career as a rotational receiver and recorded 219 yards and three touchdowns despite playing in only nine games and logging four starts. His second season featured a similar role, with the young receiver logging time in 15 games and accumulating 490 yards with two touchdowns. Even in his first two seasons as a backup, Booker was starting to make waves, and with a handful of 100+ yard games under his belt, the Lousiana-Monroe product entered the 2001 season as the team's starting receiver.

As a full-time starter, playing in all 16 of the team's games, Booker had a remarkable season in his third year. With 100 catches for 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns, Booker finished the season with the sixth most catches across the league, and the most in a single season in Bears history, surpassed recently by Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, and Allen Robinson.

Following his breakout 2001 season, Booker turned in another wide receiver masterclass during the 2002 season with 97 catches, 1,189 yards, and six touchdowns. Booker finished the season with the sixth most catches across the NFL yet again and was selected to his first and only Pro Bowl at the end of the year.

The next season, Booker faced somewhat of a decline, and after logging only 52 receptions for 715 yards with four touchdowns across 13 games, the receiver was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Coincidentally, in exchange for Booker, the Bears received defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who was recently featured on Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff.