Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

D.J. Moore pays tribute to Bears legend Dick Butkus after snapping 347-day losing streak

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 10/6/23

Thursday night brought forth a whirlwind of emotions for the Chicago Bears franchise. Mere hours before kickoff, the family of NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus confirmed the Bears legend had passed away peacefully in his sleep overnight at home in Malibu, Calif.

With heavy hearts, the Bears went out and hung 40 points on the Washington Commanders en route to their first victory in 347 days. Following the win, wide receiver D.J. Moore took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to pay tribute to Butkus.

"R.I.P Dick Butkus," Moore wrote. "[He] Was looking over us Tonight."

Moore, who is in his first season with the Bears, was vital to halting Chicago's 14-game skid on Thursday — a streak that dated back to last October. Moore repeatedly torched the Commanders secondary, collecting a career-high 230 receiving yards and three touchdowns on eight receptions. He appeared on his way to a fourth end-zone visit late in the third quarter before a referee blew the play dead, determining Moore had stepped out of bounds.

: #Bears WR DJ Moore stepped out of bounds. pic.twitter.com/UeF5DM2jm5
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 6, 2023

“That really pissed me off because I was about to score. I could’ve had four touchdowns," Moore said after the game. "The ref's got to do his job, it is what it is, we got the win so I’m not too mad."

After a slow start to his tenure in Chicago, Moore has been dominant over the past two games, totaling 361 yards and four touchdowns. Acquired in an offseason deal with the Carolina Panthers that involved the first overall pick (which the Panthers used to draft quarterback Bryce Young), Moore has been as advertised, solidifying himself as a go-to target for Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

DJ Moore - 361 receiving yards over the past two weeks

The most in a 2-game span by any Bear in NFL history pic.twitter.com/3tsiPma9Dy
— PFF (@PFF) October 6, 2023

With three 100-plus yard performances over his last four games, Moore is on pace for a career-best 1,805 receiving yards on 92 receptions. In comparison, all Bears wide receivers combined for just 1,588 receiving yards in 2022.

DJ Moore all if the sudden is on pace for a historic season. pic.twitter.com/BMmfYJxU69
— Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) October 6, 2023

Now 1-4 on the season, Moore and the Bears will look to keep momentum going and gain footing in the NFC North with a division bout against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6.

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