Rome Odunze Bio
Rome Odunze is an American professional football wide receiver for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing about 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 215 pounds, he combines size, speed, and reliable hands to play on the outside of the offensive formation. He played college football for the Washington Huskies, where he became a consensus All-American and helped lead his team to the national championship game in 2023. Odunze was selected by the Bears ninth overall in the 2024 NFL draft and quickly established himself as a key part of the team’s receiving corps.
Rome Odunze Early Life and Background
Rome Odunze was born on June 3, 2002, in Orem, Utah. When he was three years old, his family relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he spent the rest of his childhood. Growing up in the Southwest, Odunze was introduced to football at a young age and quickly developed a passion for the wide receiver position, where his combination of size and athleticism gave him a natural advantage over defenders.
He attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, one of the top football programs in the state. As a senior in 2019, Odunze was named Nevada’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year after recording 54 catches for 1,222 yards and 15 touchdowns. Across his high school career, he tallied 121 receptions for 2,699 yards and 31 touchdowns, numbers that made him one of the most sought-after receiver prospects in the country.
Following his senior season, Odunze committed to the University of Washington to play college football, choosing the Huskies over several other scholarship offers. His development at Bishop Gorman, paired with strong coaching and competitive schedules, helped prepare him for the next level of the sport.
Rome Odunze Path to American Football
Odunze’s path to elite-level American football began at Bishop Gorman, where his senior-season Gatorade award put him on the national recruiting map. His high school film showcased a polished route runner with the ability to win contested catches, traits that carried over to the college level. His commitment to Washington gave him the chance to develop in a Power Five conference and against top-tier competition.
At the University of Washington, Odunze steadily climbed the depth chart, learning from experienced receivers coaches and competing in one of the most receiver-friendly schemes in the Pac-12. Year by year, he added strength and refined his technique, growing from a role player into a true number-one target for the Huskies. By the end of his junior season, his production and consistency had made him a first-round NFL draft prospect.
Rome Odunze Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Odunze enrolled at the University of Washington in 2020 and played as a true freshman during a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared in four games and recorded six receptions for 72 yards, showing flashes of the playmaking ability that would later define his career. As a sophomore in 2021, he started seven of nine games and finished with 41 receptions for 415 yards and four touchdowns, establishing himself as a reliable contributor in the Huskies’ offense.
Washington Huskies Breakthrough (2022)
As a junior in 2022, Odunze delivered his first true breakout season at Washington. He led the team in receiving yards with 1,145, the fifth-most in single-season history for the Huskies. He surpassed the 100-yard mark in six games and the 150-yard mark in three, demonstrating his ability to take over games as a primary target.
His production in 2022 led the Pac-12 in receiving yards, and he finished second in the conference in receptions per game. He earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors and quickly became the offensive centerpiece of the Huskies’ passing attack.
Washington Huskies Final Season (2023)
Odunze’s senior season in 2023 cemented his status as one of the top receivers in college football. On September 30, 2023, against the University of Arizona, he recovered an onside kick and absorbed a heavy hit from safety Dalton Johnson, later revealing he had suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung on the play. Despite the injury, he played in all 15 games, including two playoff contests, and recorded 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns. He reached the 100-yard receiving mark in ten games and led the NCAA in receiving yards while topping the Pac-12 in receptions. He was also a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award and was named a consensus All-American. Following Washington’s loss in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, Odunze declared for the 2024 NFL draft.
Chicago Bears Era (2024-Present)
Odunze was selected by the Chicago Bears ninth overall in the 2024 NFL draft, giving the franchise a young, ascending playmaker to pair with its developing quarterback. On July 16, 2024, he signed his four-year rookie contract with the Bears worth $22.7 million, a deal that runs through the 2028 season. He made an early impact by scoring his first career touchdown on a one-yard reception against the Indianapolis Colts, finishing that game with six catches for 112 yards in a 21-16 loss. As a rookie, he concluded the season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns, laying the foundation for a larger role in the Bears’ offense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Odunze plays a physical, contested-catch style of receiver, using his length and strong hands to win in traffic. He shows polish as a route runner, particularly on intermediate and deep patterns, and pairs well with quarterbacks who can push the ball down the field. His toughness was on full display during his 2023 season at Washington, when he played through a broken rib and a punctured lung without missing a game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Odunze’s signature moments, his onside kick recovery against Arizona in 2023 stands out, demonstrating his willingness to sacrifice his body for his team. He also earned consensus All-American honors that same season, led the nation in receiving yards, and was a Biletnikoff Award finalist. In the NFL, his first career touchdown against Indianapolis marked the start of his professional scoring career.
Rome Odunze Career Wins
Throughout his football career, Rome Odunze has earned recognition for his on-field production at every level. At Bishop Gorman High School, he won Nevada Gatorade Football Player of the Year honors as a senior. At Washington, he collected First-team All-Pac-12 recognition in both 2022 and 2023, was a consensus All-American in 2023, and led the NCAA in receiving yards that same season. As a professional, he has begun building his NFL resume with the Chicago Bears.
Washington Huskies Highlights
During his time at Washington, Odunze developed into one of the most productive receivers in program history. His 1,640 receiving yards in 2023 ranked among the top single-season totals in Huskies history, and he led the team in receiving yards across multiple seasons. He closed his college career as a consensus All-American and a Biletnikoff Award finalist, capping his final season with a trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Other Wins & Performances
At the high school level, Odunze was named Nevada’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year in 2019 after a senior season that featured 1,222 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. His senior-year play at Bishop Gorman helped establish him as a top national recruit and set the stage for his standout college career.
Rome Odunze Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Rome Odunze’s family background is limited. He was born in Orem, Utah, and his family moved to Las Vegas when he was three years old, where he was raised and attended Bishop Gorman High School.
Personal Life
Publicly available details about Rome Odunze’s personal life are limited. He is focused on his professional football career with the Chicago Bears, having signed a rookie contract in 2024 that runs through the 2028 season.
2025 Season Performance
Entering the 2025 season, Rome Odunze is positioned to take on a larger role in the Chicago Bears’ offense after a productive rookie campaign in 2024. The Bears invested the ninth overall pick in him with the expectation that he would develop into a primary outside target, and his rookie totals of 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns offered an encouraging baseline for further growth. The franchise’s continued development of its young quarterback room is expected to play a key role in unlocking more of Odunze’s downfield production.
Throughout 2025, Odunze is expected to be a focal point of the Bears’ passing game, drawing on the route-running polish and contested-catch skills he refined at Washington. His ability to play through contact and produce in high-volume situations gives the Bears a reliable option on the outside, and his combination of size and speed should create matchup problems for opposing secondaries. As the season unfolds, his chemistry with the quarterback and his role within the offensive scheme will be key storylines to watch in Chicago.