There’s a lot to be excited about for Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears in 2026.
The Bears are coming off a remarkable campaign. They finished the regular season at 11-6, marking their best record since 2018. Chicago also clinched the NFC North title for the first time in eight years.
In the NFL playoffs, the Bears took down the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round. However, they came up short against the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round, ending their impressive run.
Along with the excitement is a lot of pressure heading into the new season. For Johnson, there is one player in particular he believes will play a key role on offense in 2026. That man is incoming second-year wide receiver, Luther Burden.
Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson has high hopes for Luther Burden
Burden was Chicago’s second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Bears selected him 39th overall after an impressive collegiate career with the Missouri Tigers.
Burden played 15 games for the Bears as a rookie, making five starts. He registered 652 yards and two touchdowns on 47 catches. The 22-year-old also added 37 yards on the ground on six rushing attempts.
Burden showed flashes of brilliance in Year 1, and Johnson is adamant that the young wideout can take his game to the next level in 2026.
“He is a dynamic playmaker,” Johnson said. “He’s got some of the best run after catch in the game right now. We need to continue to get the ball in his hands as often as we possibly can.”
Johnson is clearly confident in Burden’s abilities. The Bears head coach has already declared his intention to utilize Burden’s talents more in the upcoming season, with the ultimate objective of unlocking the young man’s full potential.
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