The Chicago Bears are getting a career year from Rome Odunze.
Through the first four weeks of the season, Odunze is on track to set new highs in receiving yards on a total and per-game basis, catch rate, and yards per target. That is not wholly surprising.
Odunze is a former first-round draft pick, and he was off to a hot start in 2025 before a foot injury sidelined him.
Odunze returned amid what he called a “new normal” with that injury this season.
Clocker Sports spoke with Odunze and Bears wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El about the wide receiver’s production so far in what could turn out to be a career year for the former ninth overall pick.
Rome Odunze Gets Honest After Strong Words From Bears Coach
Bears WR Rome Odunze Delivering Amid ‘New Normal’
Odunze’s “new normal” apparently meant his previously balky foot was anything but a hindrance.
Per Next Gen Stats, Odunze caught eight of 12 downfield targets in Week 4. He tallied a team-high 198 yards on those opportunities, and his 66.7% catch rate is a new career-high mark.
So far this season, Odunze has seen 44.4% of his downfield targets from all of 2025.
That is despite seeing a fraction of the targets, and speaks to the 6-foot-3 pass-catcher’s approach to his situation.
“My ‘new normal’ is just me in the present time. At the end of the day, I feel really good about that,” Odunze told Clocker Sports on Thursday. “Was able to stack some plays, some opportunities together last game, and looking to capitalize on that. That’s all it is. Putting in the work each and every week to go get it done on Sundays. And that’s no guarantee, but trying to go get it done.”
Randle El spoke candidly about Odunze.
He said that the third-year playmaker is “playing well” so far this season, and he noted Odunze’s impact beyond the stat sheet while also commenting on the dropped touchdown from two weeks ago against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We’re trying to get him the ball as much as possible, and … defenses try to take him away. And sometimes, they do a good job,” Randle El told Clocker Sports.
“When the ball has come his way, he’s made the play. He had one in the end zone two weeks ago. Obviously, wish he had it back. That ball’s hanging in the air; you just got to focus a little longer. But other than that, he’s been playing good ball. And he’s showing up in the run game, too, in terms of blocking. So, you block in this offense, we’re going to try–keep trying to get you to rock. That’s just part of it.”
Rome Odunze Producing Regardless of QB
As for his chops as a deep threat, Odunze sported a 35% catch rate on his downfield looks over his first two seasons. That was the fourth-lowest mark among the 79 receivers with 50-plus downfield targets in that span. His turnaround is particularly encouraging after his foot injury.
Odunze was 3-for-4 on deep looks in Week 4 with Tyson Bagent at the helm.
He tallied 78 yards on those looks, the fifth-most of his career, and spoke to what his ability to produce with all three Bears QBs pulling the trigger says about the team.
“I think it speaks to the coaching staff. I think it speaks to the players, the buy-in that we all have. We believe in what we got here from the top down. So, regardless of who’s out, go out there, compete, and execute our assignments. So, I think we’ve done a great job of that.”
Rome Odunze Gets Real About Packers Rivalry
Odunze, Bagent, and the Bears will look to notch their third win in a row when they take on the Green Bay Packers on the road in Week 5.
Amid strong commentary coming from their rivals, Odunze admitted emotions are part of it.
“You can’t completely [remove the emotions], obviously. You got to embrace it,” Odunze told Clocker Sports. “I think that’s more what we’re doing, embracing the emotions of the rivalry and all that that comes with. So, we’re excited to play and go talk to our pads.”
The Bears are not short on confidence in their plan and approach, and the comments from Odunze reflect that. As he barrels toward extension eligibility in 2027, Odunze is off to an encouraging start.
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