Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is a smart guy. He rarely does anything off the cuff. In other words, his comments to the media are often deliberate. While he isn’t afraid to speak from the heart at times, much of what he says often comes across as his way of sending a message to his players. We saw that early last season when he plainly stated that the players’ preparation was not yet at a championship level. That is why his comments about Luther Burden during the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) felt pretty notable.
Johnson doesn’t level praise easily. He only gives it to players he feels earn it. From the sound of things, the second-year wide receiver has surprised the head coach with how much progress he’s made since last season.
“I’m buying Luther Burden stock right now. He has been extremely coachable … He looks like he’s playing at a different speed right now. He is not thinking as much. The game is slowing down for him.”
Burden has already had multiple explosive plays in practice. His approach to the offseason has been “electric,” showcasing a work ethic that many felt he didn’t have coming out of Missouri. It sure sounds like expectations for him are growing rapidly, which was one of the Bears’ biggest hopes.
Johnson’s statement on Luther Burden carried another layer.
It felt like a pretty clear signal that his workload is about to grow significantly. Burden had 60 targets last season, good for fifth on the team. With D.J. Moore being traded to Buffalo, it was only natural that he’d likely get some of that target share. However, based on Johnson’s comments, it may go beyond that. There is a real possibility that the Bears see him as their new primary wide receiver, including over Rome Odunze, who led the team with 90 targets last season. That probably wasn’t something many expected.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
Current projections have Colston Loveland being the primary target in the passing game this season after his stellar finish to 2025. He’s become a favorite target of quarterback Caleb Williams. Most just assumed that Odunze would slot into that spot right behind him as the primary wide receiver. These Luther Burden comments suggest that it isn’t a given. Odunze missed a lot of time last season with foot problems, and the head coach didn’t draft him. We must not forget that.
Johnson likely sees Burden as Jameson Williams.
Not in direct comparison, but more the role the receiver plays in his offense. In 2024, Williams had the second-most targets on the team, trailing only Amon-Ra St. Brown. Since the Bears don’t have a St. Brown type on this roster, it stands to reason that Luther Burden will automatically become the go-to receiver in this passing attack while Loveland takes over the role of that dynamic target over the middle. It is likely why both players were drafted in the first place. This was always Johnson’s vision for them.
We saw a glimpse of what that offense could be last season. Against San Francisco, Burden had 138 yards and a touchdown, while Loveland had 94 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers had no answer for Chicago in those circumstances, allowing 38 points. That was the most they’d allowed to a non-divisional rival all season. If last year was merely a taste of the Burden we’ll soon get, one can understand Johnson’s excitement. The sky truly is the limit for this offense.
