The Chicago Bears were quickly losing trust in receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, with the veteran falling out of the rotation due to superior options and issues with drops as the 2025 season progressed. However, an opportunity opened up with Rome Odunze missing Week 14 due to injury, leaving time to tell if Zaccheaus could capitalize on his chance.
Zaccheaus made the most of the moment, making a jaw-dropping touchdown catch (h/t @JoshBenzo) that should instantly win back a high level of trust from second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. It wasn't just the quality of the catch, but the timing.
Chicago was down 14-3 and desperately needed a touchdown to crawl back into the game, and Zaccheaus delivered. Even if he only finished the game with seven receiving yards and the Bears didn't win, his performance was enough to prove that he's no longer a lost cause.
Olamide Zaccheaus Saved His Bears Future with Week 14 Performance
Now, Zaccheaus has more than earned a second look in the rotation after making such a big play in that spot. While there wasn't consistent production throughout the game, the one moment was more than enough to earn the receiver more consistent looks, especially when "the completion probability on Caleb Williams' 1-yard Pass TD to Olamide Zaccheaus was 16.9%," according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, via NFL Next Gen Stats.
Earlier in the week, it was fair to assume that Zaccheaus was clearly on his way out of town as his role shrank. Sunday's effort adds a new wrinkle to the situation now, as it'll be up to the 28-year-old WR to show he's capable of consistently stringing together similar performances. It was his first TD since Week 9, after all.
If his highlight-reel score was an outlier, it seems likely Zaccheaus will opt to sign in a landing spot where he can play a bigger role. This is understandable with the Bears having a plethora of pass-catchers on their roster, ranging from Odunze and Luther Burden to Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. There aren't all that many targets to go around, and for Zaccheaus to stay, the touchdown must be the start of a major push.
For now, Zaccheaus should continue to see his routes run move up as the franchise attempts to retake the NFC North after a frustrating loss to the Green Bay Packers. And if he can't handle these new expectations, it'll be clear that he has no future in the Windy City.