LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Bears receiver Rome Odunze on Thursday downplayed recent social media posts by his father, James, that suggested Odunze should be traded from the team.
Odunze has spoken with his father about the comments and was unfazed by what he said. Odunze added that his father's thoughts don't reflect his feelings toward the Bears.
“He has his opinions, and I have mine,” Odunze said. “And he feels like he needs to voice those things on social media, but that’s his prerogative. He speaks for himself, and I speak for myself.
“At the end of the day, he’s a Rome fan. He's a full supporter of Rome Odunze.
“I love my pops.”
On Monday, James quote tweeted a post that asked the Bears to “trade Rome Odunze to a team that will actually throw to him." In the quote tweet, James put a pin icon, suggesting he agreed with the comment.
The posts followed the Bears’ 47-42 win over the Bengals on Sunday, a game in which Odunze didn't record a reception on three targets.
“I’m happy,” Odunze said. “I’m just trying to do my job within this organization as a leader, as a person, as an individual and as a football player. I’m trying to excel at a Hall of Fame level. That’s all I’m focused on.”
The No. 9 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, Odzune has a team-high 59 targets in 2025. His 31 catches are tied for the most on the team, and he leads the Bears with five touchdown receptions.
On Tuesday, the Bears’ official X account posted a video feature on Odunze with a subtle one-word caption: "selfless." The video in part highlighted his blocking skills.
“He’s a selfless guy,” receiver Olamide Zaccheaus said. “He can do all the dirty work and make plays in the passing game too. He’s a great guy to be around in this locker room.
"It’s just who he is. Not even just on the field, off the field as well, a selfless person.”
This isn't the first time the Bears have dealt with a key player's father sharing criticism about the organization. Carl Williams, the father of quarterback Caleb Williams, spoke critically of the franchise in a book released this fall. Excerpts from the book were released last spring and centered on Williams’ concerns about being selected by Chicago with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Like Odunze, Williams said his father’s comments weren’t a reflection of his personal feelings.
“He cares so much about me, about my future,” Williams said then. “We’ve been on this journey so long. All he wants is the best for me.
“I love him to death, and I’m super fortunate to have him. But we had talks about it.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.