After the Bears acquired DJ Moore in a blockbuster offseason trade with the Panthers, expectations for the sixth-year receiver were sky high.
Moore has more than lived up to the hype in his first season in Chicago, leading the Bears with 70 catches, 1,003 yards, and six touchdowns through 12 games. He is one of only nine NFL receivers to have surpassed 1,000 yards, and his 83.6 yard per game average is the best by a Bears player since Alshon Jeffrey averaged 89.7 yards in 2015.
“He’s done a great job of coming in as a humble guy that’s making sure he fits in and tying into his teammates first,” offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said. “As the season has progressed, the growth of the leadership aspect of it has been really cool.” To see him step up, not just in the receiver room but throughout the offense, I think everyone in that room has a lot of respect for the work ethic he brings and the kind of teammate he is. He always blames himself. Every coaching point we ever give DJ starts with, ‘I got you,’ and ends with, ‘OK, how can I apply that?’ Conversations are fantastic. The attentiveness is excellent. He has been really good for us.”
Moore was acquired from Carolina along with four draft picks in exchange for the Panthers’ first-round pick, which they used to select quarterback Bryce Young.
Moore, who caught 364 passes for 5,201 yards and 21 touchdowns in five seasons with Carolina, was the type of player the Bears were looking for. Moore, the 24th pick in the 2018 draft out of Maryland, has surpassed 1,100 yards in three consecutive seasons, with 1,175 yards in 2019, 1,193 yards in 2020, and 1,157 yards in 2021.
Soon after the trade, Bears general manager Ryan Poles described Moore as “a receiver who can create separation and make big plays,” adding that he was “over the moon” to have acquired a player “who can help us right now get better.” Poles also told reporters that Moore is “a really good person” who “fits our culture and what we’re trying to do in order to keep that room, our team, and our locker room in a really good place.”
Moore and his family dined out with quarterback Justin Fields on Moore’s first night in Chicago following the trade. Later, the two went to a Chicago Bulls game with other teammates and were part of a group of Bears players who worked out together in Florida prior to training camp.
“Everybody knows he’s a great player,” said Fields. “But he’s a great player and an even better person, and an even better teammate.” He walked in and was a little quiet. However, he has always been the same. The more you get to know him and talk to him, the more he opens up and truly becomes an open book. I adore him as a teammate and as a person. He’s a fantastic addition to the team.”
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