The Chicago Bears’ new pairing of USC quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze unfolded in a series of scenes over the last month resembling a football teammate meet-cute.
The move script goes like this: Odunze, a longtime fan of Bears great Devin Hester, secures a predraft training session with Williams, the franchise’s next great hope at quarterback.
The two, who played against each other in college, meet again on their flight to Detroit for the NFL draft, snap a photo together and post it on social media. They see each other on the elevator a few times around the draft. Then, on the night the Bears draft Williams with the first pick, Odunze serendipitously falls to No. 9, at which the Bears hold another pick.
The Bears snap up Odunze to add another piece to their strengthened offense, and Williams goes “crazy” when he hears the selection. The Bears’ newest players celebrate Thursday night in a media room at the draft with a bro hug.
Williams and Odunze — and Bears fans across Chicago and beyond — hope it’s just the beginning of a happy story together.
“I definitely took my time to think about (playing with Williams), knowing that it was a real possibility picking me up in the draft and knowing the visit with them went very well,” Odunze told reporters on a videoconference call after the Bears picked him. “So it was definitely a possibility that was running through my mind, and I was super excited to have that as an opportunity. I got to watch him when I was playing him in college, and he is super talented and a generational player, so to be able to catch balls from him and compete right beside him is a special thing.”
Said Williams: “It’s crazy that it came to fruition.”
Bears general manager Ryan Poles was nervous that he might not be able to get Odunze, a player the Bears had “extremely high” on their list. The team’s simulations were 50-50 that Odunze would drop to No. 9.
“As it started to unfold, (assistant GM Ian Cunningham) had to hold me back to not trade up and do something crazy to get him,” Poles said. “But it ended up working out really well.”
The story started earlier this month when Williams, who knew the Bears were selecting him at No. 1, was organizing a throwing session in Los Angeles with Bears wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Odunze, who had 92 catches for an FBS-best 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in an All-America senior season at Washington in 2023, received an invite through former NFL wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, with whom he trains.
Odunze called it a great workout and learning experience. It also was a chance to see his new teammates in the wide receivers room up close.
“I see that Keenan’s smooth,” Odunze said. “I see how explosive DJ is. And I see that Caleb can sling the ball wherever he chooses. I’m super excited to work with that group now, officially, and I think we can do special things.”
The Bears have been intentional about building a support system around Williams, adding Allen, running back D’Andre Swift, tight end Gerald Everett and center Ryan Bates in the offseason. Now Williams also has a young receiver with whom he can grow.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Odunze had 214 catches for 3,272 yards with 24 touchdowns over a four-year career at Washington. He described himself as a “versatile receiver” who can “do a lot of things well on the field, honestly, from playing outside, playing inside, catching contested balls, creating separation.”
Poles called Odunze a great guy with a blue-collar work ethic and also pointed to his versatility.
“You love his ability to finish in contested situations,” Poles said. “Plays strong, plays big. Run after catch is very good. He’s a punt returner as well. I mean, the kid’s just put time in, and he got better and better every single year, and he’s a winner. He can impact the game at any moment. If you’re at quarterback, and you’re in doubt, you want to just go give a guy an opportunity to go finish, he’s your guy. He’s done that consistently.”
Odunze now has plans to make an impact immediately in Chicago alongside his veteran teammates, from whom he expect to take many lessons.
“I think the possibilities are endless,” Odunze said. “When you look at Keenan’s game, how complete it is, when you look at DJ Moore, how he’s able to compete in the league at a high level for a long time now, the possibilities are endless of what I’m able to learn. That’s why I say I’m going to go in there and soak up all the information I can and learn as much as I can from them. Because they’re already two very established, very elite receivers in the league.”
After Williams, the draft went as projected by most for the first several picks. The Washington Commanders selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the New England Patriots took North Carolina QB Drake Maye and the Arizona Cardinals picked Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The Los Angeles Chargers took Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5, and the New York Giants picked LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers.
But the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons shook things up at Nos. 7 and 8, selecting Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
That allowed Odunze to fall to the Bears, who had produced his favorite player as a kid.
Odunze grew up in Las Vegas as such a fan of Hester that he wore the No. 23 in youth sports. Odunze said the fandom started when he found a Hester video on YouTube set to a Lil Wayne track and watched it “over 1,000 times.”
“That just really inspired me,” Odunze said.
Now, his hope is to inspire more Bears fans alongside Williams.
“We can develop alongside one another and grow as players and learn the league and how we need to have success within it,” Odunze said. “And I think that’s super special.”
