Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze’s hair and acting skills made him ideal to play the role of late artist Bob Ross in the team’s video announcing its schedule for the upcoming season.
The video, titled, “Happy Little Matchups” in reference to Ross’ catchphrase, “Happy little trees,” features Odunze with his hair — he sometimes has it braided — out to look like the artist, and he nailed his soft-spoken tone as well as the team replicated the famous “Joy of Painting” television series.
He painted “some happy little birds just floating around,” for example, to reveal the Bears’ Week 8 visits to the Seahawks and Falcons and a home game against the Eagles.
“And if you mess up on one of them, it’s OK,” he said, setting up a line about a Week 4 home game. “You can just turn it into a Jet, like so.”
He then pulled out “this old tool that I had lying around,” and used a cheese grater to scrape some green paint onto the canvas for the two games against the Packers, then turned to the camera and said, “Isn’t that satisfying?”
He also referred to the Lions, Panthers and Bills as “little critters” as he painted them into the landscape.
You can view the full video below:
Just some happy little matchups 🎨 pic.twitter.com/mxaSU2VlOk
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 14, 2026
The NFL schedule release has been not only a major news event, but over the last few years has become the Super Bowl for teams’ social-media departments. The Chargers are widely regarded as the cleverest and funniest, and teams have gone to great lengths, including occasional celebrity appearances, to compete with them. Fox Sports ranked the Bears’ video fourth in the league behind the Titans, Colts and Chargers.
The Bears brought in Chicago-born actor Lamorne Morris, known primarily from his role on the TV show “New Girl,” for their video last year. They did a back-to-school themed video in 2024 narrated by fellow “New Girl” star Jake Johnson, from Evanston. WWE wrestler Seth Rollins appeared in 2023, when the Bears spoofed the TV show, “The Bear,” which is about a Chicago beef restaurant.
Odunze, who turns 24 this week, is going into his third season with the Bears. Throughout his time with the team, he’s been on of its most personable players and frequently appears in its social media videos.
He missed time with a foot injury last season and finished fourth on the Bears with 44 catches, third with 661 yards receiving and tied for the lead with six touchdowns in 12 games.
“I truly believe I can be one of the best in the league, so until I go out there and do that, I’m not satisfied,” Odunze told the Sun-Times at the Super Bowl in February. “That’s what I’m working toward.
“You go through certain circumstances during the season, like injuries, but in this league, you either do or you don’t. And I’m looking forward to doing a lot more.”