The Chicago Bears really wanted Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.
According to recent reports, they were even willing to trade away a fourth-round draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons– moving just one spot up from their no. 9 slot in the first round of this year’s draft– to ensure they got their highly favored ball catcher.
Fortunately for them, they didn’t have to make that deal. Also, fortunately for them, they got their man.
Odunze joins USC blue chip quarterback prospect and the draft’s overall no. 1 pick, Caleb Williams, as one-half of the Bears’ twin-bill first-rounders in what they hope to be a franchise turnaround.
Rome Odunze, Always the Chicago Bears’ Man
It’s definitely not hard to see what Chicago saw in the 22-year-old.
Odunze is 6-foot-3 with 4.4 speed, who owned the field in college, finishing his collegiate run with consecutive 1,000+ receiving yards.
But what really sets him apart are his tireless work ethic and blue-collar mindset– something which he recently showcased (once again) to media, while revealing a source of inspiration– the late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant.
Kobe Bryant as Inspiration
Responding to a reporter’s question about being able to handle the big plays in the NFL, the young talent had this to say:
“I think my name could be called in those big moments…I have the confidence and ability to make those plays when they come up and when my name is called…I think it’s something you just prepare for. It’s like Kobe [Bryant] always said– he never took a shot in a game he hadn’t took a thousand times in practice. And I think that’s really true. We go out there and we practice super hard and put ourselves in tough situations so, when we get in the game, it just kind of feels like you’re there in the present doing your job.”
Odunze’s ability to dazzle with hard work is becoming the stuff of legend.
Stacey Dales of the NFL Network tapped into that at the NFL combine in March.
Per Dales, via Twitter/X:
“This was an INCREDIBLE moment unlike anything I’ve ever seen at the combine when it comes to elite talent like Rome Odunze.
He was the last prospect on the field. The day was done for everyone else. Not Rome. He vowed to complete EVERY aspect of testing. 3-Cone testing was last for him. He wanted a 6.6 seconds. He eventually landed a 6.8 on attempt six without hitting the cones, and was furious with himself. They finally had to end the day and told him to nail it on his pro day. But this is what transpired at the end of the night in Indy…Rome Odunze is special.”
And, as if the Rome Odunze story couldn’t get more feel-good…
Mom and Dad Help Rome Burn
Who’s helping him rise to that Kobe-like mindset? His partents.
Odunze recently revealed that his Mom and Dad are the ones who’ve helped him learn playbooks ahead of an upcoming season.
Per Madison Williams of Sports Illustrated:
“The No. 9 pick in this year’s draft explained how he’s always used his mom, or his dad, to help him learn the playbook ahead of a football season. They typically would yell the play at him while he’s setting up to run the route. His rookie NFL season will be no different as Odzune said he “for sure” plans on including his mom in his offseason preparation.”
And will Mom and Dad be helping him this time, with a considerably larger and more complicated NFL playbook?
Of course.
“When I go back to Vegas, mom’s gonna have to go to work,” Odunze told ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “She’s gonna have to be out there in that 115 degrees. She already knows that.”
Alyssa Barbieri of Bears Wire projects that Odunze will finish his rookie season with 60 receptions, 804 yards, and 6 touchdowns as the Bears’ WR3.
But don’t be surprised if Rome surpasses that projection. After all, the combined inspiration of Mom, Dad, and Kobe is pretty powerful.
