Rome Odunze enters 2026 with the spotlight burning hotter than ever in Chicago.
The Bears used the 2024 first round on the wideout, taking him eight picks after quarterback Caleb Williams, and the early buzz around that pairing has only grown louder with time. But after a rookie season that was easy to excuse because of the chaos around the organization, and a 2025 campaign interrupted by a foot injury, the margin for error is shrinking fast.
That’s why The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain pegged Odunze as the Bears player with the most on the line this season.
“Selected eight picks after quarterback Caleb Williams, Odunze has shown so much promise, but his sophomore NFL season was marred in a foot injury and uncharacteristic drops. He has said that his “new normal” is getting used to his foot following the fracture, which sent shudders through the Bears fan base.
If Odunze can put it all together and be the team’s No. 1 receiver, he - like his quarterback - would be in line for a massive payday. The Bears haven’t given a multiyear contract extension to a receiver they drafted since Earl Bennett in 2011.”
Odunze’s 2025 numbers show both the promise and the frustration. In 12 games, he finished with 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns.
The bigger issue was efficiency: he hauled in just 48.9% of his targets, a drop of about 5% from his rookie year. He drew criticism for a string of drops, though that wasn’t the full story.
Now the focus shifts to 2026, and the expectation is simple: Odunze has to make the leap Bears fans have been waiting for. The encouraging sign is that he is fully healthy and looked sharp at OTAs, getting out of his routes well and moving smoothly with the foot that bothered him last season. Odunze has acknowledged that he’s still adjusting to life with a healthy foot, but the trend is pointing up.
The opportunity is there, too. With DJ Moore traded, the path is open for Odunze and Luther Burden III to lead the receiver group. Colston Loveland is also expected to command plenty of targets as an emerging tight end, but Odunze still has to be the one who rises to the top.
In Other News...
This Bears 53-Man Projection Hints At A Camp Twist Fans Will Debate
Training camp always turns the Bears roster math into a little puzzle, and this projection shows just how tight things could get once the team starts sorting out the final 53. The list by position points to a roster with clear starters and depth pieces, but it also suggests a few familiar names could be squeezed into uncomfortable spots before the opener.
Jack Sanborn, Stephen Carlson and Kentavius Street are among the players mentioned as being closest to the edge, which is the kind of early-camp pressure that usually creates plenty of debate among fans. The bigger issue may be how Chicago opens enough room for a third running back and for Ozzy Trapilos eventual return from injured reserve, two moves that could force the Bears to make some tough calls elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Jaquan Brisker Just Gave Bears Fans Another Reason To Miss Him
The Bears offseason overhaul at safety already made Jaquan Briskers exit feel like part of a larger reset, but the former second-round pick reminded fans why his departure still stings. Brisker spent most of four seasons as a starter in Chicago after arriving in 2022, and even with the team choosing not to bring him back, he remained one of the more recognizable pieces of the defense the Bears had to move on from.
Chicago has tried to address the spot by adding new faces to improve coverage consistency, but Briskers connection to the fan base clearly has not faded. He recently sent a message to Bears supporters that only added to the sense that this was a familiar player leaving behind more than just a roster spot, and it leaves one more reminder of how much change this defense has absorbed in a short time. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Staffer Resurfaces In NFL As Sherrone Moore Drama Lingers
Paige Shiver, the former Michigan athletic department executive assistant whose name has lingered in the background of the Sherrone Moore saga, has reportedly resurfaced in the NFL with the Bears organization. The move adds another layer to a story that has already stretched from Ann Arbor to the legal system, where her name has remained tied to a dispute over what the university has and has not been willing to release.
Shiver is also the daughter of veteran Bears scout Jeff Shiver, which gives the development a familiar Chicago connection even as the Michigan matter continues to play out. She remains involved in a lawsuit against the university over public records tied to her relationship with Moore, after Michigan denied the requests on the grounds that an investigation was still ongoing. [Read more 🡒]