Bears WR Rome Odunze on chasing NFL history and his Haaland-like instinct

Speaking to DAZN News, the Chicago Bears receiver broke down why those targets are within reach and discussed the bond he's built with quarterback Caleb Williams.

He also opened up on a lesser-known passion for Manchester City, comparing Erling Haaland's "killer instinct" to his own approach.

Odunze's 2025 in review

The ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Odunze showed plenty of promise in his rookie year.

Despite playing in a crowded receiver room, he finished third on the Bears behind only D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen in targets and receiving yards.

With Allen heading back to the Chargers, Odunze was tipped to become a star in 2025 and perhaps become the focal point in an improved passing game led by an ascending Williams.

He started the year well, leading Chicago with 661 receiving yards and six touchdowns through the first 12 games while competing with Moore and rookies Luther Burden and Colston Loveland for targets.

But then disaster struck: a stress fracture in his foot that kept him sidelined for five games.

Odunze returned for the playoffs and was famously on the receiving end of the now-immortalised 'Jumpman' pass from Williams to help the Bears overcome the Packers in the Wild Card game.

But that play aside, his impact against Green Bay and in the Divisional Round loss to the Rams fell a little short of what fans had come to expect given his early-season performances.

Odunze is ready to push on in 2026

"I definitely want to go over 1,000 yards. I want to touch double-digit touchdowns. I want to go over 100 catches," Odunze said before switching focus to the real prize that he wants.

"Those are just some statistical goals, individual-wise. But obviously [we] want to make the playoffs, and to go win the Super Bowl is the biggest goal," he continued.

"It takes game-by-game and my individual effort, along with everybody on the team, in getting that accomplished."

This time last year, the prospect of the Bears winning a Lombardi might have seemed somewhat fanciful.

Ben Johnson's arrival as the new head coach brought plenty of promise, but this was a team that hadn't posted a winning record since 2018, and had finished last in the NFC North for three straight years.

An 11-6 record and division title in 2025 means expectations are now sky-high, but Odunze knows winning in 2026 won't come easy.

"There's always an opportunity for us to win, and following that path, and believing in that, I think has paid dividends for us last season.

"I'm sure we'll find ourselves in a couple of situations this year as well, and we'll be tested, and we'll have to go get it."

What Odunze is looking to improve

The 24-year-old is focusing on multiple areas of his game as he heads into the new campaign.

"When it comes to wide receiver play, everything in general. Catching the ball, route running, running after the catch, all of those different aspects," he said. 

Johnson recently told reporters that Odunze's ability to make contested catches is his "superpower," and while Odunze agrees, he sees room for growth.

"Absolutely, especially anything outside the numbers, where the ball is just kind of vertical. You can make a play on it.

"Definitely looking to improve those and get some more of those chances and come down with them as well... 50/50 balls were definitely something I worked on in the offseason, and I'm hoping to show that this season as well."

Bears chasing NFL's greatest offense record

Johnson and Williams have both spoken this offseason about wanting to surpass the 2013 Denver Broncos as the highest-scoring offense in NFL history.

Pressed on how realistic that mark is for the 2026 Bears, Odunze backed the ambitious goal.

"We have a lot of talent; we have to hone in on the details. It takes a very detail-oriented offense to get that job done.

"That offense was special for sure, and I think we have some steps to take to get to that point, and consistency in our execution... but I think we're on the right track.

"I'm sure it's going to be very explosive and a very good offense... but I think we can touch it for sure."

The bond with Caleb Williams: "That's my brother"

Odunze and Williams have now been paired for two and a half years, and the receiver made it clear that the relationship extends well beyond the practice field.

"Caleb's relationship with me and him has been great... Off the field, that's my brother.

"Honestly, we do a lot of stuff together, whether that's go grab a bite to eat, or he has people over at the house sometimes, to watch movies or watch a big game... he's a great person as much as he's a great player, so yeah, that's my boy."

Michael Reaves / Staff

That bond, he believes, translates onto the field on game days.

"You've got to have a lot of trust in that dynamic... when you have that connection off the field, it makes it that much easier to have that connection on the field, and that chemistry, and want to go out there and make plays for one another."

Which Bears' rookies have impressed Odunze so far?

Asked which rookies had caught his eye through training camp, Odunze pointed to two names in particular.

"Dillon [Thieneman] is obviously doing a great job. He's stepping up in a real big role on defense. His speed across the field has been really impressive."

Emilee Chinn / Staff

Odunze's comments echo reports that Thieneman has been turning heads all camp, and he's not the only rookie to catch the receiver's eye.

"Sam Roush has done an amazing job as well, adjusting to the offense and all the different intricacies of tight end play.

"Ben Johnson has a notoriously tough camp, a physical camp, a lot of details as well, so battling through that, battling through the bumps and bruises as well as the mental fatigue, they've all done a great job."

If Roush, a third-rounder out of Stanford, continues to impress, Chicago could have one of the deeper tight end groups in the league, with Loveland and veteran Cole Kmet leading the way.

A Manchester City fan through and through

Away from the NFL, Odunze revealed a soft spot for the English Premier League.

"I'm a little bit of a UK football fan. I'd probably say my favourite team is Man City; I'm a big Erling Haaland fan. But I like Arsenal as well. I'm kind of a bandwagoner when it comes to it."

Smiling, he also touched on how he knows supporting multiple teams — two successful teams at that — is often frowned upon.

"I know that's like breaking the law out there, you know, being a bandwagoner with teams!"

Odunze watched up to three games per day during the FIFA 2026 World Cup, and he saw something in Haaland's game that translates to his own approach as an NFL receiver.

Al Bello / Staff

"That goal he had against Brazil, where he's kind of just chilling all game, he's relaxed, then you see this moment. This killer-like instinct flash in him, where the ball's in the air and he makes a play to put them ahead.

"I feel like that correlates to wide receiver play," he continued. "There's not that many opportunities to make a play, but when you know the ball comes your way, be able to execute that and use your abilities and talents to make a big play for your team."

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