Rome Odunze Emerges as Bears’ Bright Spot in Winless Start
Bears fans entered this season with the utmost excitement. But after an ugly 0-2 start, it’s been gloomy in Chicago.
A bright spot, however, has been second-year wide receiver Rome Odunze. Fresh off the best game of his career, Odunze is emerging as a true #1 receiver in the NFL, and it’s exciting as a Bears fan.
History of Lackluster Wide Receivers
The Chicago Bears – as a franchise – are known for their defense, toughness, and iconic players like Walter Payton and Dick Butkus. One thing they’ll never be known for is having good receivers.
The Bears’ all-time leading receiver is someone by the name of Johnny Morris. Morris played in the ’50s and ’60s, so don’t feel bad if you’ve never heard of him. At just over 5,000 receiving yards, Morris leads the franchise. This is quite embarrassing, but not surprising when you think about it.
I would argue the Bears’ most talented receivers ever are Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey. Marshall played just three seasons for the Bears after being traded from the Broncos, but he was so fun to watch. He finished his stint in Chicago with 3,524 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns. I think he’s the best receiver ever to put on a Bears uniform, but he wasn’t there for long.
Jeffery was drafted by the Bears in the second round and played five seasons in Chicago. He tallied 4,549 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns. Another really good player, but he never became that dominant #1 receiver the Bears had hoped.
Outside of those two guys, the list of star receivers begins to dwindle. Allen Robinson was really good as a Bear, but he couldn’t stay healthy and was only in Chicago for four seasons. Then there’s Willie Gault. Gault was a part of the ’85 Bears, but he wasn’t necessarily a “star.” He never eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in a season, yet he’s still considered one of the Bears’ best. That goes to show how mightily the Bears have struggled at acquiring and developing talented receivers.
My whole point here is that Rome Odunze has a serious chance to become a Bears’ legend. Bears fans have yet to witness what a dominant #1 receiver looks like, and I believe Odunze could be the first.
Rome Odunze’s Background
Rome Odunze was born in Orem, Utah, and grew up in Las Vegas. He attended Bishop Gorman High School and then went to the University of Washington to play wide receiver. He caught four touchdowns as a Sophomore, but really broke out in his Junior season with 1,145 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Then he finished his collegiate career with his best season yet, racking up 1,640 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Odunze was an All-American his senior season and one of the best receivers in the country alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.
Growing as a Rookie
After drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears used the 10th selection on Rome Odunze. Odunze’s rookie season wasn’t ideal for a top 10 pick, but he was put in a unique situation.
The Bears receiving core consisted of veteran Pro-Bowler D.J. Moore and newly acquired, future Hall of Famer, Keenan Allen. When you add veteran tight end Cole Kmet to the mix, opportunities become slim for the rookie receiver.
Odunze was third in targets with 101, but only 58.4% of them were deemed catchable, which ranked 99th in the NFL. We know Caleb Williams struggled with accuracy last year, specifically on deep balls, and Odunze’s production suffered because of it.
The coaching staff also wasn’t ideal in Chicago. The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after just nine games last season. Then they fired head coach Matt Eberflus after the brutal Thanksgiving loss to Detroit.
It’s safe to say that Rome wasn’t in the greatest environment to succeed as a rookie, but he still produced. Odunze hauled in 54 catches for 734 yards and 3 TDs. He also led the NFL in contested catch rate with 72.2%. His superpower in college was winning those one-on-one jump balls, so it was promising to see that skill set translate to the NFL.
Compared to his fellow rookies, Odunze finished 6th in receiving behind Brian Thomas Jr., Malik Nabers, Brock Bower, Ladd McConkey, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
But most importantly, Odunze’s elite talent was evident. It was just a matter of putting him in positions to succeed.
Year 2 Breakout
Heading into year two, Odunze was primed for a bigger role. Keenan Allen left for LA, allowing Rome to step in behind D.J. Moore. The Bears also revamped their coaching staff, adding Ben Johnson to perfect the offense and Antwaan Randle El as the receiver coach to help Rome take that next step.
Throughout training camp, reporters raved about Odunze’s rapport with Caleb Williams. Ben Johnson recently said the two have a “natural connection,” and we’ve seen that through the first two games.
In Week 1 against the Vikings, Odunze was targeted 9 times and finished with 6 catches, 37 yards, and a TD. He displayed strong hands, a natural feel for zone coverage, and the ability to get yards after the catch. On one play specifically, Caleb rolled out right and fired it to Odunze on the sideline. It was a phenomenal catch, showcasing Odunze’s great hands.
His growth from last season was evident in Week 1, but that was just the beginning.
Week 2 was Odunze’s true breakout game. He caught 7 passes for a whopping 128 yards and 2 TDs. His first reception was a big play TD where he came across the middle of the field on a sort of a drag route. From there, he sprinted up the field and made a defender miss to secure the score.
His best catch of the day came on a dig route in the middle of the field. Odunze was matched up 1v1 with the corner and separated perfectly at the top of his route.
Then he dove to catch the ball, beating the safety who was coming down to break it up.
This was the performance that makes someone a #1 receiver in the NFL. He was truly dominant, showcasing his contested catch ability, savvy route running, and elusiveness with the ball in his hands.
Through the first two weeks, Odunze ranks 10th in receiving yards, tied for first with 3 TDs, 10th in catches, and 3rd among receivers in fantasy points.
Odunze is clearly the #1 receiver in Chicago, and can join the likes of Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and CeeDee Lamb as a top wideout if he continues to progress.
He’s got a big-time opportunity looming with a matchup against Matt Eberflus and the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have struggled defensively this season, and might be without their top two corners on Sunday. Odunze should continue his early success with a big game against Dallas.
The Bears have gotten off to a rocky start this season. But one bright spot has been second-year receiver Rome Odunze.
Odunze has emerged as the Bears’ #1 receiver and is on track for a breakout season. I have a feeling #15 jerseys are going to be a hot commodity for years to come in Chicago.
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