Ordinarily, it would be difficult to find a more cheerful player in the Bears’ locker room than wide receiver Rome Odunze, a bright-eyed 23-year-old who’s usually all smiles and eagerly engages in any conversation.
But he was sullen as players packed up their belongings the day after the Rams knocked the Bears out of the playoffs.
This thrill ride of a season wasn’t so wonderful for him. He loved all the winning, of course. But as others around him spoke optimistically Monday about the Bears’ future, a subdued Odunze couldn’t shake the feeling that he underperformed.
He’s a tough grader in calling his season “definitely disappointing,” considering he emerged as the team’s clear No. 1 receiver before foot injuries derailed him. With 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns through 12 games, he had a shot at a 1,000-yard season at the time. Later, he played through plantar fasciitis and a stress fracture in his right foot to catch four passes for 88 yards in the playoffs.
But Odunze was fixated on what he didn’t do. He especially was down on himself about dropping a pass inside the Rams’ 5-yard line on the Bears’ opening drive Sunday, feeling it was a continuation of lapses he had throughout the season.
“I had way too many opportunities I left out there on the field, and that’s not been the player I’ve ever been in my career,” Odunze said. “I’ve got to go into the offseason and put in the work to do those things.
“It wasn’t the season I wanted to have. . . . It really hurts just not coming through in some of those moments throughout the whole season. It’s not just [the Rams game]. It’s several different plays.”
He eased off himself a little and acknowledged his contributions to the Bears’ leap from 5-12 with the worst offense in the NFL last season to No. 6 in total offense with a spot in the divisional round of the playoffs.
But his standards are high. And so are the Bears’ for a player selected ninth in 2024.
Odunze always has had some cover because the Bears got him in the same draft in which they took quarterback Caleb Williams first overall. Normally, though, when a team picks a wide receiver in the top 10, it’s expecting an all-world difference-maker like the Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase who can’t be covered one-on-one and stresses defenses.
By bringing Williams and Odunze in together, the Bears set their hopes even higher. Although Odunze said he saw flashes of a connection with Williams this season, he again lamented the missed opportunities as that connection “faltered at different moments.” He resolved to “be available for [Williams] in the best manner” after watching him make huge plays and “put it all out there on the line.”
Odunze has been good — certainly promising — but not yet great. His injuries absolutely hindered him. The good news for the Bears is that he reiterated this week he doesn’t need surgery on his foot. He plans to be at Halas Hall in the offseason for rehab.
As for his development, he made strides under coach Ben Johnson and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. He and Williams, in fact, couldn’t say enough about how helpful it was to get clear, accurate feedback under Johnson. They endured the same ineptitude and slowed growth as rookies in 2024 playing under former coach Matt Eberflus and his staff. Odunze spent much of that season unsure if he was even running routes correctly. That’s no longer murky.
Beyond continuing to develop Williams, elevating Odunze into an elite weapon is one of the most important tasks on Johnson’s list for 2026. He wants an offense with a variety of threats in order to maintain unpredictability. Odunze has the potential to be even more, putting the Bears over the top. It’s a massive opportunity for him and the organization — one neither side can afford to miss.
