Chicago Bears rookie second-round pick Luther Burden III is the team’s first player at his position to wear the No. 87 since Muhsin Muhammad, who last donned it in 2007 and later said his former franchise was “where receivers go to die.”
Burden, though, may be unlikely to don the digits once the regular season begins.
Asked about choosing it, the No. 39 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft told Bears media that “all of the good numbers” were already accounted for. That got the rookie some notable attention.
Super Bowl Champ Ed McCaffrey Sends Clear Message to Bears WR Luther Burden III
Ed McCaffrey to Bears’ Luther Burden III: ‘Don’t Knock’ No. 87
Former Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers wideout Ed McCaffrey won two of his three Super Bowls wearing the No. 87. McCaffrey was an integral part of the Broncos’ back-to-back wins in 1997 and 1998.
“Hey, don’t knock it til you’ve tried it!,” the 56-year-old McCaffrey posted on X, quoting a video of Burden’s comments.
McCaffrey wore 81 with the 49ers and Giants. Perhaps such a switch would smooth things over. Burden cannot reclaim his collegiate No. 3 since it is retired in honor of Bronko Nagurski. He could wait for 13 as the Bears begin to trim their roster. It belonged to six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, who remains a free agent.
It is currently worn by fellow wideout Maurice Alexander, a 28-year-old former undrafted free agent.
The switch, to 13 or any other number, could happen as soon as OTAs in late May, but certainly before the start of the regular season in September. Of course, Allen has alluded to a potential return to the Bears, so perhaps it remains reserved.
Bears Avoid Luther Burden’s Warning
Bears head coach Ben Johnson told reporters on Friday that they were happy Burden slid to them in the second round with the 39th overall pick. Burden, though, views the drop from the first round differently.
He acknowledged it left a permanent chip on his shoulder.
“That [chip]’s staying with me forever,” Burden told reporters after Friday’s practice. “Everybody who passed up on me got to pay.”
Burden’s projections ranged anywhere from the first receiver not named Travis Hunter off the board to the last in the first round. At any rate, his wait was widely expected to end on Day 1 of the draft. Rumors of poor practice habits surfaced after the draft, but Burden disregarded them.
“I feel like I’m a great practice player. I’m trying to go out there, get better, and help my team any way I can help,” Burden told reporters on May 9.
“It’s just noise. Block the noise out. Don’t listen to it.”