24-05-2025
Ben Johnson sings praises of former UW Football superstar WR Rome Odunze
Ben Johnson sings praises of former UW Football superstar WR Rome Odunze
It doesn't take long for Rome Odunze to make an impact on the people around him.
Ahead of his second year with the Chicago Bears, the former Washington Huskies superstar, whom the organization selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the NFL draft, has already made a significant impact on his new head coach, Ben Johnson.
As a rookie, Odunze hauled in 54 catches for 734 yards and 3 touchdowns from the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, and it feels safe to say that Johnson expects big things from the young wide receiver in his offense.
"I'm extremely impressed," Johnson said of Odunze in a press conference. "To be a second-year guy, you would expect a little bit more inconsistency, and yet the way he approaches the meeting room, the walkthroughs, the on the field, the drill work. He's much like a seasoned pro, some of the best I have been around.'
"He's still learning, and I know there's a lot of information that's getting thrown his way, [wide receivers coach Antwaan] Randle El and [offensive assistant Robbie] Picazo are doing a great job with him, and I think we're going to see a lot of growth from him not just in the springtime, but once we get to camp."
Even after the Bears spent their first two picks in the 2025 draft on pass catchers, adding Michigan tight end Colston Loveland in the first round and Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III in the second, Odunze is expected to assume, at the very least, the No. 2 role in the offense behind Pro Bowler DJ Moore following the departure of veteran Keenan Allen in free agency.
