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Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze recently found himself entangled in a controversy that he didn’t even start. Following the Bears’ Week 9 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Odunze’s father, James Odunze, retweeted a couple of posts questioning his son’s usage with the team. His father’s social media activity had some wondering if Odunze himself felt the same way, particularly after going without a catch during Chicago’s 47-42 victory (you would have thought Odunze would have made a huge impact given the score). Read more: Steelers WR DK Metcalf Gets Blunt on Questionable Role Well, Odunze cleared the air this week and made sure everyone knew that he is perfectly content in the Windy City. “Oh, man, I’m happy,” Odunze said, via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “I’m just trying to do my job within this organization as a leader, as a person, as an individual and then as a football player. So trying to excel at a Hall of Fame level in those aspects. That’s all I’m focused on.” MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 16: Rome Odunze #15 of the Chicago Bears reacts during the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 16, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Odunze added that any views of his family members do not necessarily reflect his own. “I don’t make a big deal out of it,” he said. “Obviously, he has his opinions, and I have mine. And he feels like he needs to voice those things on social media. That’s his prerogative. But he speaks for himself. I speak for myself.” Odunze has caught 31 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns on the season overall and is on pace to finish with over 1,000 yards on the campaign, so it’s not like he isn’t seeing the football. Now, it should be noted that in five of Odunze’s eight games this year, he has finished with less than five catches, and in four of those contests, he managed under four receptions. But it’s important to remember that Odunze is also playing alongside of D.J. Moore plus a host of other dynamic weapons in the Bears’ aerial attack, so it’s only natural that opportunities will be more spread out. The 23-year-old is still averaging 7.4 targets per game, which puts him on pace for about 125 for the entirety of the season. So he is definitely not an afterthought in Chicago’s offense. Read more: Insider Reveals Stunning Potential Development for Bengals QB Joe Burrow And whatever the Bears are doing, it’s working, as they rank fourth in the NFL in yardage and sixth in points per game in 2025. Chicago is 5-3 and will face the New York Giants this Sunday. For more on the Chicago Bears and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
