Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams raves about “spectacular” Rome Odunze

The Chicago Bears didn’t have the best 2024 season. Chicago is 4-11 heading into Week 17 of the NFL season. Expectations were high for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. At the end of the season, Williams understands that working with wide receiver Rome Odunze is the key to success.

Williams was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former USC Trojan was quickly joined by Odunze, who was drafted ninth overall. The two first-round picks have great potential together and the Bears saw this as a big move. The two were able to get through their rookie season together, even if it wasn’t the best season.

Williams recently spoke to the media about the need to connect more with Odunze. Williams also talked about the positive aspects of having a fellow rookie to develop with over the course of the year.

“It was great to have a young man like Rome with me, a spectacular person, a spectacular player,” Williams said. “The opportunity to have him here, to grow with him, our relationship over the years will be vital to the team. The opportunity to continue that, to expand on that, will be fun. I think he’s going to get better, especially with the guys he’s had with him this year (DJ Moore and Keenan Allen), two guys that have been doing this for a while, I think it helps him.”

Allen is an impending free agent, while Odunze and Williams will be together on their rookie contracts. If Williams doesn’t have veterans like Allen, Odunze will be a player who needs to step up next season and Williams will need to work with him. Getting a rhythm going now will fuel the Bears offense.

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Things haven’t been easy for the Bears’ offense this year. Chicago’s offensive line put pressure on Williams in his rookie season. Williams leads the league with 60 sacks. The Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus earlier this season. The coaching changes next year will be a big factor, but having Williams and Odunze together will help improve the offense.

This season, Williams has rushed for 3,271 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has thrown just five interceptions, the last coming on October 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Odunze has 701 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He was targeted 95 times this season and had 51 receptions. The Bears’ offense could become dominant if the two young players are on the same page.

While the season may not be over, Williams and Odunze still have two games left to build their chemistry. Both have improved over the course of the season. Two of Odunze’s touchdowns came in Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers.

Hopefully the Chicago Bears hire coaches for the young players who can get the best out of them. So far, Kliff Kingsbury and Ben Johnson are considered the top candidates for the position of head coach. Kingsbury had a successful season with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels as the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator. He could be exactly what the Bears and Williams need. Johnson has created an explosive offense as the Lions’ offensive coordinator that could make the Bears a scary team in 2025.

Despite a disappointing season, the former USC Trojans star still has high expectations. Williams and Odunze will look to use the rest of this season and the upcoming offseason to come out strong in 2025.