The Chicago Bears’ vision for quarterback Caleb Williams includes wide receiver Rome Odunze, and the dynamic duo is paying off on the team’s investment this season, their second year together. Williams has shown noteworthy progress from Year 1 to Year 2 through four games, and Odunze has easily been the biggest beneficiary.
The former Washington Huskies star is just hoping to keep the momentum going.
Rome Odunze Gets Honest About Caleb Williams Amid Bears Coach’s Comments
Bears Getting Return on Investment From Caleb Williams & Rome Odunze
As the Bears’ two first-round draft picks in 2024, selected eight slots apart, Odunze and Williams are inextricably linked in ways that many other QB-WR combos around the league are not. Moreover, they got an opportunity to bond before even being teammates during the pre-draft process.
However, that did not always translate onto the field last season, where the duo had more missed connections than they would have reasonably liked.
Both players are showing significant growth in Year 2, and their rapport is a big reason why.
“I think it’s just time on task, really,” Odunze told Clocker Sports on Friday. “That’s how you continue to build and start to perform and execute on those things. So, I wouldn’t say that we couldn’t have done it last year, but sometimes it just doesn’t connect. This year, we’ve been able to connect, and hopeful that we’ll continue to do it going forward.”
Despite their forever bond, Odunze said that he and Williams are “not necessarily” driven by their status as the faces of the current/next iteration of the Bears. Instead, their motivation lies in a far simpler place.
“Honestly, we just wanna win games, regardless of how that gets done,” Odunze told Clocker Sports. “I know we both have a lot to contribute into that. So, we both feel like we can get the job done, and do make tremendous plays for this team to get in that W column. But when it comes to ‘face of the team’ and all that stuff, that comes with the wins, and we’ll take that.”
Rome Odunze’s Work on Finer Points Paying Off
Entering the Bears’ Week 6 showdown against the Washington Commanders on “Monday Night Football,” Odunze has 20 receptions for 296 yards and 5 touchdowns on 35 targets. He leads the Bears in all four categories. Through the same span last season, Odunze had a 10-166-1 line on 23 targets.
Odunze has been candid about meticulously working on the finer points of playing the wide receiver position.
“That’s definitely one of the points of emphasis,” Odunze told Clocker Sports. “Just really trying to upgrade all the facets when it comes to wide receiver play. So, it was a big focus. Whether that was route running or details and learning the offense, all the different things – run blocking – try to improve on.
“There’s a lot of nuances to the wide receiver position. I’m just trying to perfect those.”
So, what is next for Odunze individually in addition to helping the Bears go for their third straight win in Week 6 as they visit the Commanders?
“Honestly, just continuing to build on my execution of the plays, and my leadership within this team, this organization,” the wideout told Clocker Sports. “Just looking to take a step with those things and bring others along with me. I feel like I’ve been playing pretty well. Obviously, I have had my mistakes and need to clean those up. But for the most part, I just want to continue to play well. And then, bring others along to continue to elevate our play as a team.”
Bears Coach Sees Growth in Rome Odunze
Bears wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El sees Odunze and Williams’ improved chemistry on the field as two young players who are learning together early on in their NFL careers.
“I think the biggest growth is just him understanding the game. And then, him putting all these little techniques together in the offseason, letting him start to show up in the season now. So, I think that’s the biggest thing. And then, I think it [Odunze and Williams’ connection] just goes back to the two young guys coming in together. That’s kind of what that is at the end of the day,” Randle El told Clocker Sports.
“It’s not a slight to anybody else. But that’s, I guess, [why] the relationship there is what it is more so than anybody else.”
Odunze’s breakout has come as others in the offense, like DJ Moore, have gotten off to slower starts. Eventually, the attention opposing defenses give Odunze will open things up for Moore. For now, the Bears are reaping the benefits of pairing Odunze with Williams last season and the duo’s preexisting chemistry.
Asked specifically how Odunze’s additional strength has shown up, Randle El cited impacts in the pass and run games.
“Some of the blocks that he’s made – he doesn’t have to get all of the defender to affect the defender,” Randle El said. “Last year, that was a little different in terms of blocking. And then, top of the route stuff, disengaging from the defender. You can see the disconnect versus he’s trying to disconnect before, and it just wasn’t happening – or it wasn’t happening quick enough. It’s happening quicker now. And it’s happening over and over again, and it’s happening quicker this year now.”
