Now entering his second year in the NFL, Rome Odunze is determined to make his mark on the Chicago Bears — and the rest of the NFL — in a big way.
In a July 8 Zoom conversation with Heavy Sports, Odunze spoke about a number of things, including his preparations for the upcoming season, his continuing partnership with Sharpie™ and the ways new head coach Ben Johnson is going to help him succeed.
Odunze’s partnership with Sharpie™, announced before the 2024 season, highlights the wideout’s passion for self-expression and creativity—traits that align with his disciplined yet artistic approach to football. It’s a fitting collaboration for a player whose sharp mind and smooth route-running have already begun to leave a lasting impression.
Noting he has been a fan of Sharpie™ markers for years (“I grew up using Sharpies, honestly. I remember when they had the ones with the smells. I had a pack of those,”) Odunze signed his rookie contract with one.
“I feel like it definitely has a special connection in that way, just being something that I already heavily used was a fan of, so when I got the opportunity to sign my contract with it, it was another pivotal moment Sharpie was right there for,” he said.
That pen is currently “all framed up” and “ready for No. 2 and No. 3, hopefully.”
Rome Odunze Says New Coach Ben Johnson Has Him Hyped Heading Into 2025
SharpieRome Odunze signed his rookie contract with a Sharpie S-Gel Pen.
Selected 9th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Odunze quickly earned a significant role in the Bears offense. He played in all 17 games (12 starts), hauling in 54 receptions for 734 yards (13.6 yards per catch), while scoring three touchdowns.
That was with former head coach Matt Eberflus leading the way, though. With offensive-minded head coach Ben Johnson now at the helm, Odunze should see a definite uptick in production.
When asked what it was like to go from a defensive-minded HC to an offensive guru like Johnson, Odunze says he’s excited about the possibilities.
“I think it’s definitely great for my development,” he said about having Johnson in the building. “What he’s been able to accomplish in this league is pretty incredible. Just being able to learn from him, honestly, is super awesome. I try to take notes every day and try to soak up information every day, just because I know what he’s telling us is gonna lead to success in this league.”
Known for his offensive acumen, creativity and elaborate trick plays, Johnson promises to bring more excitement and viral moments to the Bears offense — and Odunze cannot wait.
“Shoot, I’m gonna say a 10,” he said when asked how excited he is to be part of Johnson’s trickery. “I’ve never thrown a touchdown … It’ll be exciting. Hopefully I can be a part of those (trick plays). Gotta get my arm warmed up.”
I reference the classic TD celebration former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens had back in 2002, when he pulled a Sharpie™ out of his sock in end zone before autographing the ball he caught and giving it to a fan. Perhaps a celebration like that could be in order after one of those plays?
“Oh yeah, I would definitely do that,” Odunze said with a laugh, adding: “I would definitely do that. As long as they (Sharpie™) agree to pay the fine,” he added with a smile. “Definitely would love to do some sort of iconic celebration like that. … T.O., Ochocinco, Randy Moss, all had some pretty iconic celebrations, so I gotta add one of those.”
Odunze Reveals What He & Caleb Williams Have Been Working on This Offseason
GettyBears wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Noting he and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams have been putting in work together this offseason, Odunze rattled off a list of things he and his QB have been working to improve:
“Timing, scramble plays, catch radius, coverages that he likes, one-on-one opportunities, which I kind of specialize in. … We’ve grown in all of those facets and parts of the game, and I think that’s just going to continue.”
Odunze also believes the team’s current WRs room, which features DJ Moore and rookie Luther Burden III, could be one of the best WR rooms the team has ever had.
“I think so. We have depth, we have great talent across the board — smart guys, as well,” he said.
Odunze had some standout games as a rookie, notably in Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, when he had six catches for 112 yards and a touchdown—marking the first 100+ yard game of his career. You can expect many more.
With Keenan Allen hitting free agency, Odunze is positioned to become the team’s primary downfield threat.
He’s not as concerned about individual stats, though. He wants to go to the playoffs — and beyond.
“Definitely want to make the playoffs, and if you’re gonna make the playoffs, you might as well go all the way, so I think we set high expectations for ourselves,” he said, adding: “A Super Bowl in the first year for a head coach would be pretty dope. I feel like we’re selling ourselves short to reach for anything else.”
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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