Former Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson has a new offseason project in mind, and it involves Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Not a full week after the Bears’ wild 47-45 win over Johnson’s old team, he took to social media to make a pitch of sorts. “I need to work with Rome Odunze this offseason, young boul gone be special i just need 3 weeks,” Johnson wrote on X.
Drafted ninth overall by Chicago in 2024 to pair with Caleb Williams, Odunze was billed as one of the top wideouts of the 2025 draft, and after a relatively modest (yet still decent) rookie season, he’s breaking out in Year 2.
Through eight games, he has 31 catches for 473 yards and five touchdowns, netting a strong 15.3 yards per reception. That stretch includes a seven-catch, 114-yard day against the Baltimore Ravens that showed exactly why Chicago was so high on him.
Johnson didn’t get into specifics about which aspects of Odunze’s game he wanted to help with, but it’s an interesting offer considering Ochocinco’s history.
More on the Idea of Chad Ochocinco Wanting to Work With Chicago Bears Wr Rome Odunze This Offseason
GettyChad Ochocinco Johnson wants to work with Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze next offseason.
Thus when someone like Chad Johnson volunteers his time, it does carry some weight. During his peak with the Bengals, Johnson was one of the league’s elite wideouts, piling up 766 receptions, 11,059 yards and 67 touchdowns, making six Pro Bowls and earning first-team All-Pro honors three straight years in the mid-2000s.
He led the NFL in receiving yards in 2006, and became well-known for his explosive release and excellent route-running skills. There’s little doubt he could have a pointer or 10 for Odunze. For example: Johnson has long preached selling vertical in the first five yards, winning leverage before the break and catching the ball as late as possible so corners can’t play through the hands. His perspective could be a compelling one for Odunze, who has many of the same traits Johnson did.
The Bears likely wouldn’t mind any outside help that would make Odunze better, either. Who knows whether a few weeks of working on footwork and release variation with Johnson would make that big of a difference, but if Rome were to pick up even one usable trick or bit of knowledge he can incorporate come game time, it’d be worth it.
Odunze Can Net His 1st 1,000-Yard Campaign With a Strong Finish to the Season
On a 5-3 Bears team trying to stay relative and in the NFC playoff mix, Odunze has become the team’s best vertical threat. He provides a nice contrast to DJ Moore, which gives the Bears an exciting and very different one-two punch at WR.
Odunze had 54 catches for 734 yards (13.6 yards per catch) and three TDs as a rookie, and he has already found the end zone more this year in eight games than he did last year in 17. He’ll need 527 yards in the team’s final nine games to hit the first 1,000-yard season of his young career. If he stays healthy, that’s a milestone he should have no problem hitting.
Still just 23, it’s easy to see why Chad Johnson wants to work with the 6-foot-3 Odunze, who is nowhere near his prime. Nothing may come of it, of course, but the fact one of the great WRs of the aughts wants to work with Rome is already a solid compliment in itself.
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