PRO CAREER: Named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America all-Rookie team after hauling in 39 receptions for 391 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2007… Finished fifth among all rookies in receptions and ninth in receiving yards in 14 games played after missing the first 2 contests with a knee injury… Became just the second Bears rookie TE to surpass 300 receiving yards, trailing only Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 yards in 1961)… Had 6 receptions of 20 yards or more during rookie season while leading or tying for the team lead in receptions three times… Caught 1st career TD pass at GB (10/7/07), which was the first TD reception by a Bears rookie since WR Bernard Berrian caught a 35-yard TD pass at NYG (11/17/04)… Combined with Desmond Clark (545) for 936 receiving yards in 2007, the most by a Bears TE duo in franchise history when each player has over 100 yards receiving… Was a part of a Bears TE trio (Clark, 44, and John Gilmore, 3) in 2007 that hauled in 86 receptions, the most catches in a single-season for Bears tight ends in franchise history… 2008 Piccolo Award winner.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Entered NFL as a first-round selection (31st overall) by Chicago in the 2007 Draft… Signed 5-year contract with Bears (7/3/07). SIGNED through 2011
2007 SEASON: Totaled 39 receptions for 391 yards and two touchdowns during his rookie season… Hauled in 2 passes for 28 yards in his first taste of NFL action vs. DAL (9/23)… Started 4 contests (Games 6, 8, 10 and 16) when the Bears came out in dual tight end sets while playing in Games 3-16; Inactive Games 1-2 with a knee injury. GAMES PLAYED-STARTED: 14-4
COLLEGE: Three-year letterwinner at the University of Miami (2004-2006) starting 26 of 33 games played totaling 87 receptions for 1,215 yards (14.0 ypc) with 6 TDs… Started 12 games in each of his final 2 seasons at Miami earning first-team and honorable mention all-ACC honors as a junior and sophomore respectively… Led team in receptions as a senior (40) and was 2nd on roster in catches as a junior (31)… Also saw time as team's long snapper.
PERSONAL: Attended Wayne High School (N.J.) where he was named USA Today first-team All-American as a senior in 2002 and was one of three finalists for Gatorade National Player of the Year… Also named first-team All-America selection by Parade magazine, SuperPrep and PrepStar… Rated third overall on ESPN's list of 100 players nationally… Helped team to a 12-0 mark in 2002 and New Jersey Group 3 state title… Older brother, Christian, was a quarterback at the University of Virginia and attended Chicago's rookie mini-camp in 2007 with Greg.
Three-year letterwinner at the University of Miami (2004-2006) starting 26 of 33 games played totaling 87 receptions for 1,215 yards (14.0 ypc) with 6 TDs… Started 12 games in each of his final 2 seasons at Miami earning first-team and honorable mention all-ACC honors as a junior and sophomore respectively… Led team in receptions as a senior (40) and was 2nd on roster in catches as a junior (31)… Also saw time as team's long snapper.
Attended Wayne High School (N.J.) where he was named USA Today first-team All-American as a senior in 2002 and was one of three finalists for Gatorade National Player of the Year… Also named first-team All-America selection by Parade magazine, SuperPrep and PrepStar… Rated third overall on ESPN's list of 100 players nationally… Helped team to a 12-0 mark in 2002 and New Jersey Group 3 state title… Older brother, Christian, was a quarterback at the University of Virginia and attended Chicago's rookie mini-camp in 2007 with Greg.