Torie Montgomery
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III rushes down the field with a football in the game against Boston College on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
Entering the 2025 NFL season, 16 former Missouri Tigers held roster spots in the league, but one garnered more hype than the others. Luther Burden III, picked 39th in the 2025 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, had the heads of Missouri fans turned toward the Bears.
Burden played all three years of his collegiate career at Missouri, tallying 192 catches for 2,263 yards and 21 total touchdowns. In four games with the Bears, he has recorded seven receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown.
Burden is listed as the third-string wide receiver for Chicago, slotted behind DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay. He primarily plays slot receiver for the Bears, using his ability to create plays after the catch to generate offense. He also plays on the outside, running routes and making big plays happen.
Burden saw limited opportunities in his first two games in Chicago, finishing with two receptions on three targets across the two games. The Bears lost both games, capped by a 52-21 loss to Detroit in Week 2.
Burden’s two most recent games saw him catch his first touchdown in the form of a 65-yard house call off of a flea flick play against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished the game with 101 yards and three receptions for an early career high.
“I love the endzone,” Burden said in a sit-down with FOX 32 Chicago. “I’ve been loving the endzone for my whole life … I finally got a touchdown in the league, it’s amazing.”
Burden recorded two catches for -4 receiving yards in his Week 4 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, regressing from his stellar Week 3 performance.
Burden and the Bears look forward to their next game against the Washington Commanders Oct. 13.
Edited by Killian Wright | [email protected]
Copy edited by Maren Hettler and Avery Copeland | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]