Frequently Asked Questions
How many catches and yards does Rome Odunze have through his first two NFL seasons?
Odunze has 98 catches for 1,395 yards and nine touchdowns over his first two seasons. He has been targeted 191 times since debuting in 2024, giving him a catch percentage of just 48.1%.
Why is Rome Odunze struggling with contested catches in the NFL?
Despite being elite at contested catches in college — hauling in 24 in his final season at Washington — Odunze caught just six of 29 contested targets in the 2025 season. The belief is that concentration issues are to blame, as he seems too focused on what he'll do after the catch rather than securing the ball first.
What did Doug Farrar say about Rome Odunze's issues?
Doug Farrar of Anthlon Sports pointed out that Odunze's ability to beat defenders on contested catches was his alpha skill in college, and the Bears expected that to carry over to the NFL, but it simply has not happened. Per Pro Football Focus, Odunze caught just six of 29 contested targets in 2025.
How does Rome Odunze's catch percentage compare to Luther Burden's?
Odunze's catch percentage over his first two NFL seasons sits at 48.1%, meaning he's caught fewer than half the passes thrown his way. Rookie Luther Burden, by contrast, finished the 2025 season with a 78.3% catch percentage.
What is at stake for Rome Odunze in his third NFL season?
The third year of a rookie contract is when teams typically decide whether to offer an extension, meaning Odunze needs to prove himself or risk the Bears walking away from a big investment. Another season of inconsistency, health problems, and contested-catch struggles could cost him a long-term deal in Chicago.
Erik Lambert
I’m a football writer with more than 15 years covering the Chicago Bears. I hold a master’s degree in the Teaching of Writing from Columbia College Chicago, and my work on Sports Mockery has earned more than twenty million views. I focus on providing analysis, context, and reporting on Bears strategy, roster decisions, and team developments, and I’ve shared insight on 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and football podcasts in the U.S. and Europe.
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