Chicago Bears wideout Rome Odunze's sophomore season didn't go as planned, as he dealt with a foot injury that forced him to miss five games. He also had some troubles with drops down the stretch, as he was credited with four, according to Pro Football Focus.
While there are some areas where he needs to grow, head coach Ben Johnson believes he and the coaching staff need to improve in 2026. He spoke to reporters at the NFL League Meetings on Monday, saying:
"I'm actually not very happy with us as an offensive staff, our ability to get the primary receiver open. I don't think it happened at a high enough clip, and so we have to do a better job in our game-planning process. And I put a lot of that on myself, of making sure that we are doing that."Ben Johnson, Bears HC
With Johnson putting some pressure on himself, Odunze should be excited about where the Bears' head coach wants to take this offense.
Rome Odunze Should Benefit from Changes Ben Johnson Wants to Make
Despite appearing in five fewer games, Odunze saw his numbers dip in multiple categories. For a receiver who was the ninth overall pick in 2024, that's not what anyone wanted to see.
Season | Targets | Catches | Receiving Yards | Catch Rate | Longest Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 101 | 54 | 734 | 53.5% | 47 |
2025 | 90 | 44 | 661 | 48.9% | 37 |
While he did increase his touchdowns from three to six, Odunze seemed to be less involved in the aerial attack as the season went on. He finished with three or fewer catches in six of his last seven games. There seemed to be a disconnect, and Johnson thinks some of that falls onto coaching. He wants to find a way to scheme up their receivers more, and Odunze is a player who could reap those benefits.
With DJ Moore gone, 85 targets are up for grabs. Outside of Odunze, Luther Burden is the other name that could push the Washington product for targets. Kalif Raymond and Jahdae Walker are the only other legitimate wideout options, meaning Chicago will likely put more on Odunze's plate in 2026, giving him a juicy chance to increase his production and efficiency.
At the same time, Johnson said that receivers need to improve their "route detail" and "simply catching the football." Those are some areas where Odunze could improve this offseason, but Johnson's comments should be encouraging for a receiver entering a pivotal Year 3.
The Bears will certainly put more on his plate, but that's what you want as a player. Getting the ball thrown his way will give him more opportunities to be productive. Target share shouldn't be a problem in 2026, but what Odunze does with it remains the biggest question.