Rome Odunze opens up about falling short of expectations in 2024

Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze was greeted with a significant amount of fanfare when he was selected ninth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Washington Huskies star entered the NFL with a reputation for making high-flying contested touchdown catches, but after 14 games in his rookie season, he has yet to have the “wow” moment that several other highly drafted receivers have this year.

Odunze enters Week 16’s game against the Detroit Lions with 47 catches for 624 yards and three touchdowns. He has two 100-yard receiving games on his ledger. That’s the good news. He also has nine games with 40 or fewer receiving yards. Not great.

This one stung. I knew Rome would have an opportunity against the Vikings. He’s so good. Bad drop by him. https://t.co/A6LEEefAWG

— Trey² (@PeanutChillman) December 19, 2024

Odunze began the 2024 season with high aspirations, including chasing Puca Nacua’s rookie record for receiving yards in one season (1,486 yards) and becoming the first Bears receiver to reach 1,000 yards this year. Neither goal seems likely now.

“At the end of the day, I can put my best foot forward and do whatever I can to help this team to try and reach some of those goals,” Odunze said this week. “And that’s why you set those goals. Sometimes, you fall short, and you look, and you re-assess, like, ‘OK, I fell short. What do I need to go do?”

Odunze knows his rookie year wasn’t perfect.

“I feel like I went out there and did what I can, and made mistakes and tried to improve on those things and then continue to do so,” he said.

If Bears GM Ryan Poles got anything right in the 2024 NFL Draft, he selected two elite character guys in the first round with QB Caleb Williams and Odunze. Williams, who’s also had his share of struggles this year, has a fantastic perspective on improving in 2025. And you can bet the QB-WR tandem will do a lot of that offseason work together.

“You only get one rookie season,” Odunze said. “That’s kind of motivation for me just to continue to put good stuff on tape and be the best player I can be every time we step on the field. We’ve got three more opportunities to do that, and I’m looking forward to doing so.”