Since Jahdae Walker first stepped foot inside Halas Hall in May, his coaches and teammates have all shared a general consensus about the rookie receiver.
He is different.
His energy. His passion. His kid-like love for football. And, of course, his ability to invigorate his teammates with the highlight-reel talent he's displayed.
"I've never met anyone as energetic, as charismatic as him," said defensive tackle Shemar Turner, who played with Walker at Texas A&M. "What I think he brings to a team is just that love for the sport and then that energy. When he scores a touchdown, you see how the whole sideline goes crazy, just because everybody has his back."
Throughout the past four months, Walker entered the building each day with that infectious attitude and a real understanding of the grind it would be to go from an undrafted rookie to making the 53-man roster.
So at 3 p.m. Tuesday — the day all NFL teams were required to cut their rosters down to 53 — when Walker returned to the locker room following the Bears' penultimate training camp practice, he picked up his cell phone and was met with the reward of that grind.
"I was actually coming off practice and I saw my phone had 100 missed calls, so I'm like, 'dang what's going on?'" Walker shared. "But I kind of knew, so that's when I called my family and they were just saying 'congrats, congrats' and I just felt blessed for the opportunity."
Every year across the NFL, there are underdog stories and training camp darlings that capture fans' hearts. What was special about Walker's case was the way he received that support and love throughout the locker room.
Turner witnessed the same thing happen in college.
When Walker transferred to Texas A&M from Grand Valley State in 2023, Tuner remembers meeting him for the first time in the locker room before the Aggies' first practice.
"It felt like he had already met me and the whole team. That's how he's always been," Turner said.
Walker not only captivated the Texas A&M roster. He also had Turner's family rooting for him. Turner refers to his uncle as "the biggest Jahdae Walker fan," who, throughout training camp, always asked about Walker's chances of making the roster and excitedly called his nephew as soon as the 53-man roster was announced.
Between college and now the pros, Turner believes that every person who has met Walker is "gonna be rooting for him." including his Bears teammates.
"All Day Jahdae — that's the man," receiver Rome Odunze said. "He brings a lot of energy to the organization. Every single day he comes in and works tremendously hard and he's got that chip on his shoulder … so, it's really an awesome story to be honest. I got to watch him play a little bit in A&M and all that. So, yeah, man, Jahdae is the best.
"He worked very hard to be on the team and continue to be in this league. So I'm looking forward to what he's gonna surprise us with next."
Walker isn't just a player who won the team over with his personality.
He earned his spot on the 53-man roster and earned the trust of general manager Ryan Poles by consistently displaying his skills on the field throughout every training camp practice and preseason opportunity he received.
"We put a lot on the receiver room ... and when I think of Jahdae and I think of (OL) Theo (Benedet), it's just like, where they walked in, to where they are today, the discussion was developmental, and then they put themselves ahead of that curve," Poles said.
During the Bears' first preseason game against the Dolphins, Walker showcased his route-running and quickness by hauling in a 15-yard touchdown catch on a fade pattern from quarterback Case Keenum.
"I really trust Jahdae in the short time I've gotten to know him," Keenum said after the game. "I thought he played really well today. He's got a great release off the line. Just had to give him a chance."
After catching two passes for 20 yards in the second preseason contest against the Bills, Walker had just one more chance to perform in game action before final rosters were decided.
He delivered.
The Bears trailed the Chiefs 27-22 with 1:29 left in the fourth quarter last Friday when backup quarterback Tyson Bagent and the offense took the field. On the drive's first play, Walker made an acrobatic, toe-tapping 15-yard grab along the right sideline to move the chains and stop the clock.
As Bagent led the Bears down the field, Walker waited for his next opportunity, and with seven seconds to play, he capitalized.
Walker lined up wide on the right side from the 6-yard line and on the snap, fought around Chiefs cornerback Ajani Carter and made a break for the end zone. Bagent placed the ball perfectly to Walker, who created a step of separation from Carter and hauled in the game-winning touchdown.
The entire Bears sideline erupted in chaos as Walker popped up and hit his now-iconic "Jubi slide" celebration in front of his teammates.
"It was exciting for me to see," Turner said of the game-winning score. "I was happy for him because I kind of knew what it meant, especially after seeing him make plays on special teams too. It was an exciting moment, especially since I knew he was excited and turned up about it too."
What became overshadowed by the touchdown was Walker's tackle, which he shared with receiver Miles Boykin, on the ensuing kickoff, which sealed the win for the Bears.
For special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, though, that tackle helped solidify what he had already been learning about Walker.
"Passionate," Hightower said of Walker. "Loves football … he's in the front row all the time, always asking questions. Not kiss-butt questions, real questions. So, in that way, I've seen a guy that really cares about football and he's earned his opportunity.
"Now it's really time for him to get to work [and] prove that he deserves that opportunity. You have to prove that every day in the NFL, every day."
Walker knows the real work is just beginning. Yes, making the 53-man roster was a goal that the rookie can now cross off his list, but heading into the regular season, there's plenty more he wants to accomplish.
"My mindset going forward is to just be the best teammate I can be," Walker said. "Contribute on special teams, do whatever the coaches ask me to do and do it to the best of my ability.
"And be a dog."
Walker will be fighting for playing time in a talented receiver room that features veteran DJ Moore, 2024 No. 9 overall draft pick Rome Odunze, 7-year pro Olamide Zaccheaus and 2025 second-round selection Luther Burden III.
Much like when he walked into training camp this year, Walker understands there is a long road ahead in terms of establishing himself as a weapon in Ben Johnson's offense.
Still, Walker is proud of the spot he's in right now. As someone who has loved the game of football since childhood, Walker knows his younger self would want him to appreciate this moment.
"He wouldn't even believe it," Walker said. "He definitely wouldn't believe it. My 10-year-old self would say 'congrats. Keep going. You're not finished. It doesn't stop here. And it's time to turn it up a notch.'"
