The Chicago Bears' success in 2025 doesn't just hinge on adding more quality players to the roster. It must involve getting more out of the players they already have. That is why head coach Ben Johnson and his staff were brought in. Getting the most out of the young guys in the lineup is critical to any success this season and beyond. Everybody talks about Caleb Williams for obvious reasons. However, it is equally true of Rome Odunze. The team believes the young wide receiver has limitless potential. Helping it blossom is crucial to any future success.
Developing receivers has always been challenging for the Bears. Few of their higher draft picks over the years have panned out. Curtis Conway and Alshon Jeffery are the two most prevalent. Yet for their successes, you also see David Terrell, Kevin White, and Anthony Miller. Odunze had a solid first year with over 700 yards. Now, his new position coach, Antwaan Randle El, believes it's time to take that next step. One of the staff's plans is to utilize him in several different ways.
“We can get him the ball in a lot of different ways,” Randle El said, his eyes widening. “I see him (being) used in a lot of ways.
“A lot of times you see him catching these screens. But he can run routes. He can move inside and do different things too. I am excited about that.”
Randle El is a big fan of Rome Odunze.
He admitted to the Bears media that he was jealous when Chicago drafted the Washington standout last year. As the Detroit Lions' wide receivers coach, he was tasked with evaluating and ranking the best players at the position in the draft. While most people believed Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers were the #1 options in the class, Randle El felt it was Odunze. That is probably because he saw so much of himself in the Bears' youngster: tough, physical, detailed, versatile, and competitive. It is why Randle El carved out such a successful career in the NFL, winning a Super Bowl in 2005.
One thing is certain: Rome Odunze is in good hands. Randle El has a growing reputation for developing young wide receivers into studs. In 2019, he helped Chris Godwin blossom into a Pro Bowler with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Two years later, upon arriving in Detroit, he oversaw the ascents of Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Odunze is as or more capable than all of those players. If he's ready to work, 2025 could be a breakout season for him.
