Rome Odunze is ready for the Green Bay Packers.
In an exclusive interview with Heavy Sports, the second-year wide receiver for the Chicago Bears spoke about his partnership with Sharpie™, his preparations for Year 2 and why he’s ready to dominate those Cheeseheads.
Before he made his NFL debut, Odunze aligned with Sharpie™, joining fellow Washington standout Michael Penix Jr. as part of a NIL initiative where the brand became the official writing tool of their rookie seasons.
Now, heading into Year 2, he and Penix are passing the pen to rookies Ashton Jeanty and Tetairoa McMillan.
“I was the first Rookie of the Year alongside Michael Penix,” Odunze told Heavy Sports. “We got to sign our first contracts with a Sharpie S-Gel pen, so now we’re kind of passing that torch to the new guys, Ashton Jeanty and T-Mac. We’re handing over the rookie responsibilities to them.
Odunze also plans on taking a Sharpie™ to game day when the Bears play the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, as he’s aiming to do a jersey swap with former University of Washington teammates Roger Rosengarten and Troy Fautanu.
He’s also hoping to make his mark against the rival Packers.
A Look Back at Odunze’s Rookie Year
GettyBears wide receiver Rome Odunze feels more ready to face the Green Bay Packers in Year 2.
During his rookie campaign, Odunze played all 17 games (starting 12). He finished with 54 catches for 734 yards (13.6 yards per catch) and three touchdowns. Those numbers placed him alongside Hall of Fame TE Mike Ditka as one of the few Bears rookies to amass at least 50 catches and net 700+ receiving yards.
Multiple outlets are predicting Odunze will have a breakout 2025. NFL.com placed him on its 2025 All‑Breakout Team, emphasizing his sturdy hands, contested-catch prowess and likelihood he’ll excel in Ben Johnson’s ball‑control offense. The Athletic, Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report also included him among their top breakout candidates for the upcoming season.
With a top-tier coaching voice in Ben Johnson now calling the plays and running the offense, 2025 looks primed to be the breakout year that turns promise into production for Odunze.
Rome Odunze Says He Has More Confidence Playing the Green Bay Packers This Season
Against the Packers Week 18, with .40 seconds left in the game, Odunze made a key play in what turned out to be Chicago’s game-winning drive when he snagged a 15-yard pass on the sideline, moving the chains to midfield.
I asked him if making plays like that in such a pivotal moment gives him more confidence when playing the Packers moving forward.
“Oh, yeah, for sure,” he replied. “I mean, any time we play the Packers, I feel a little bit of extra motivation that week, just learning about that rivalry and how it started, knowing the position the Bears have been in over the last several years. We’re looking to dominate every single time we play them. But yeah, those plays add confidence, for sure.”
Over the past decade, the Bears have struggled mightily against the Packers, posting an abysmal 3–17 record from 2015 to 2024. This run included an unprecedented 11-game losing streak dating back to 2019, the longest in the storied series.
That narrative shifted just a bit on January 5, 2025, when the Bears secured a thrilling 24–22 road victory at Lambeau Field thanks to a walk-off 51-yard field goal by Cairo Santos. This win was doubly significant: not only did it snap the 11-game rivalry skid, but it also marked Chicago’s first win over Green Bay since the 2018 season and their first at Lambeau since 2015.
If he and Williams can work more of their magic, the Bears have a very real shot of turning the rivalry around.
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