Bears rookie – Chicago Bears sixth-round pick Jordan van den Berg is facing online backlash after photos from an African hunting trip went viral.
A newly drafted Chicago Bears rookie has sparked a fierce online backlash after images from a hunting trip in Africa went viral.
Jordan van den Berg. a defensive tackle from Georgia Tech. was selected with the 213th overall pick in the sixth round of this year’s NFL Draft. and his profile had already been rising as a late-round developmental option.. But the conversation quickly shifted once viral photos showed van den Berg posing with animals he had hunted—an eland and an impala—smiling with a rifle in hand.
The backlash has split fans and commenters sharply along cultural and ethical lines.. Many critics argue that posing with dead animals turns the moment into something performative. with some animal-rights supporters describing the images as disturbing rather than celebratory.. Others were harsher, calling the act disrespectful and drawing criticism toward big-game hunting itself.
Defenders, however, point to van den Berg’s South African heritage as a key context for the photos.. Some commenters argued that hunting is part of everyday culture in parts of southern Africa. and that treating him like an out-of-place tourist misses the background behind the imagery.. A few also compared the situation to familiar hunting traditions elsewhere—suggesting that if deer hunting can be normalized in many countries. the same logic should apply to big-game hunting.
For the Bears, the optics arrive at an early and fragile moment.. Draft week is already intense for rookies. but social media can turn even a positive football milestone into a broader reputational storyline.. When a player is still learning the league’s media rhythm. public attention can be more volatile than in-season controversies—especially when the debate isn’t about performance. but about values.
From an editorial standpoint. the real story may be less about the hunting images themselves and more about how quickly modern sports fandom turns moral disagreements into traction.. The comments underline a wider trend: the NFL’s star economy may be about highlights on Sundays. but it’s also about what a player represents off the field.. Even if a controversy stays rooted in social media, teams and sponsors often weigh the potential for reputational spillover.
On the field, van den Berg is coming off a productive run at Georgia Tech.. Last season. he finished with 42 total tackles and three sacks. numbers that helped reinforce his case as a disruptive interior presence with growth potential.. In the Bears’ defensive planning. a sixth-round lineman isn’t expected to be an immediate headline starter—but the position still needs confidence. stability. and focus.
That’s what makes this moment feel particularly precarious.. If the online uproar continues. van den Berg may find his introduction to the NFL increasingly filtered through controversy rather than technique.. In practical terms. that could mean heavier scrutiny in interviews. extra attention on personal conduct. and the kind of media cycle that can distract a rookie during early camp preparation.
There’s also a broader question behind the noise: how much cultural context can calm a polarized audience?. The comments show that even when supporters provide background, critics may still judge the images through an ethical lens.. For the athlete involved. the outcome is likely to depend on how the story evolves—whether it fades into the background after initial attention. or whether it turns into an ongoing debate each time his name appears in headlines.
For now. van den Berg’s NFL future begins with football expectations. but his public moment starts with an argument about hunting. representation. and the meanings people attach to a single photo.. If the Bears want to protect the rookie’s development. the priority will be helping him stay anchored on the things he can control: his preparation. his performances. and how he navigates the spotlight that comes with every new draft class.