When most NFL players catch footballs and score touchdowns, they look for bigger paychecks. Chicago Bears tight end Trey Burton is looking to spend some of his new contract for a better cause.
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With four catches for 20 yards and a touchdown, the 26-year-old Burton helped the Bears take down the Seattle Seahawks, 24-17, on Monday Night Football at Soldier Field. Those statistics will also help the International Justice Mission, an organization set up to end slavery and human trafficking.
Announcing he would donate $1,000 per catch and $2,500 per touchdown, Burton is donating $6,500 in the first week of his new mission.
As a father of 3, hearing about powerful human traffickers preying on young children cut me to the core. That’s why I’m joining @IJM to send rescue by giving $1k per catch + $2.5k per touchdown this season. #TeamFreedom #BearDown 🐻⬇️ https://t.co/BU28Y9uS6X
— Trey Burton (@TreyBurton8) September 17, 2018
A 6-foot-3, 235-pound tight end, Burton caught a shovel pass from quarterback Mitch Trubisky for a 3-yard touchdown and the game's first score in the first quarter. He caught all four of his targets against the Seahawks.
Not the 1st time Trey Burton scored a TD from inside the 5 at Soldier Field. He did it as an Eagle two years ago pic.twitter.com/CurbLiajer
— Barroom Net | Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) September 18, 2018
Burton, a University of Florida alum who signed a four-year, $32 million contract with the Bears this offseason, is certainly making new fans in Chicago, but he is already a hero with the Philadelphia Eagles.
After being undrafted in 2014, Burton is most famous for being the player who threw the touchdown to quarterback Nick Foles on the iconic "Philly Special" play that helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots.
Burton has 68 receptions for 664 yards and eight total touchdowns in his career. Nothing might ever touch the "Philly Special" in terms of football significance, but perhaps Monday night's touchdown was the most important one to date to start helping IJM.
"We felt this is what were called to do, and this is what we're going to do. We have three children. I don't think anybody believes children should have to suffer this, and on top of that, they prey on the poor. ... So we're going to do our best to raise awareness and funds for it as well." — Trey Burton via the Chicago Tribune
Burton joins Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins as supporters of IJM, and you better believe he will stay true to his word with his donations, no matter how many catches he has this season.
