Luther Burden III signs rookie contract with Chicago Bears

CHICAGO, Ill. (KMIZ)

Luther Burden III made monetary NFL history by signing his first professional contract.

The Chicago Bears announced that the organization has officially inked a deal with Burden III. It is reportedly a fully-guaranteed contract that's worth $10.965 million, making the former Mizzou wide receiver the league's first No. 39-overall NFL draft pick to earn a fully-guaranteed deal, per ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter.

The St. Louis native was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft after helping change the trajectory of Mizzou Football. Burden III helped guide the Tigers to 27 wins in three years, including two straight 10-win seasons. Over his three-year collegiate career, the former second-team All-American was a two-time first-team All-SEC selection and a semifinalist for the 2023 Biletnikoff Award, which honors the best wide receiver in college football. He finished with 192 catches, 2,497 total yards and 25 total touchdowns as a Mizzou Tiger.

Burden III will tackle his first NFL training camp, starting on July 25.