"It is going to take some time for my eyes to get used to seeing Zavion Thomas wearing No. 81 with the Bears. All of Thomas' college highlight clips feature him wearing No. 0, which pops off the screen. With all due respect to No. 81 and those who wore it previously for Chicago's football team, these digits just aren't doing it for me."
"Zavion Thomas is one of the most exciting newcomers on the Bears' 2026 roster. A third-round pick from the team's most recent NFL Draft class, Thomas' selection was surprising. It isn't that Chicago didn't need receiver help. Adding a wideout was on our NFL Draft weekend wish list. However, Thomas wasn't on our radar as a possible third-round fit."
"But given his raw speed and potential positional flexibility, I can see why Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson wanted him. Maybe Thomas can change our perception of the number with a breakout campaign early in his Bears career. Or he can go the route of Luther Burden III and change his number after preseason cuts come down."
"He will be rocking No. 9 in 2026. Zavion Thomas stuns in new Bears threads. This is from the annual NFLPA Rookie Premiere event: Chicago just got colder ❄️#NFLPA #RookiePremiere @ChicagoBears @LSUfootball @ftfzayy_ pic.twitter.com/ZMHdp91yi6- NFLPA (@NFLPA) May 17, 2026"
Zavion Thomas appeared in a Chicago Bears uniform at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere event. The debut shows him wearing No. 81, a change from his college highlights where he wore No. 0. His number choice may take time to adjust to, but it could become a breakout identity if he performs early. Thomas is a third-round pick from the Bears’ most recent draft class, and his selection surprised some observers because Chicago also needed receiver help. His raw speed and positional flexibility are presented as reasons coach Ben Johnson targeted him. The piece also notes other Bears players have changed numbers, including Luther Burden III and Jahdae Walker.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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