The Chicago Bears have no shortage of weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams this season, and there are a lot of mouths to feed in Ben Johnson’s offense. That includes third-year pro Rome Odunze, who’s stepping into an even bigger role in 2026.
With the departure of wide receiver DJ Moore, via trade to the Buffalo Bills, the Bears have a No. 1 receiver spot up for grabs, and Odunze is the natural successor to Moore. Odunze, selected ninth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been a go-to target for Williams since their rookie season, and he flashed his potential in the first four games of the season with 296 yards and five touchdowns.
But a lingering foot injury derailed his sophomore season, where he missed five regular-season games, and drops became a struggle for him. Now, Odunze is looking to bounce back in 2026, and he described what a breakout season would look for him.
“I think it’s everything,” Odunze said. “It’s wins, it’s numbers, it’s when we watch film in the meeting rooms, it’s the pluses. It’s all those different things. I don’t want to just to have a great individual season. I want to collectively be a tremendous wide receiver that has a tremendous impact with his team that gets wins week in and week out.”
Odunze’s response is exactly what you want to hear from a player who cares more about team success than individual success. But, if Chicago is going to continue to light the league up on offense, Odunze’s individual success is going to be a huge part, alongside the Bears’ other cast of playmakers, including receiver Luther Burden III and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears WR Rome Odunze explains what breakout season would look like
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
