Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are hoping to become the next premier quarterback-wide receiver duo in the NFL.
The Chicago Bears sophomores, who were both top-10 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, showed a glimpse of their potential as a one-two punch on offense.
But with the Bears stumbling to a lowly 5-12 record, the pressure is very much on the quarterback’s shoulders to perform in year two.
If there is adversity early on for the Bears, however, then former NFL player Damien Woody feels it will be ‘rough’ for Williams, amid uncertainties over his future as the Bears’ franchise quarterback.
“It’ll be rough,” Woody said on ESPN’s Get Up. “Listen, because the way the Chicago Bears have done this thing, they’ve basically taken the excuses away from Caleb Williams.
“You’ve got the quarterback. You’ve rebuilt the offensive line. You’ve got the weapons.
“Now it’s on you [Williams] young man to go out and get the job done.”
Last season, the Bears got off to a blazing start, going 4-2 before their bye week in week seven.
It looked as though Chicago had found their savior under center at long last.
However, coming out of the bye week was an absolute disaster, as the Bears lost 11 straight games, picking up just one win which came in week 18.
The 2024 Draft’s No. 1 overall pick completed just 63 percent of his passes, throwing for 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions.
But, the offensive line in front of him struggled to contain defensive pressure, which led to Williams being sacked 68 times.
Despite this, Williams still managed to set the NFL rookie record for most consecutive passes without an interception (212).
With five other QBs being drafted in the first round, the hype around Williams was further accentuated.
Though, the emergence of No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels as a rising star in the league vastly overshadowed Williams’s rookie season after he led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship game, whilst the Bears sat last in the NFC North.
Should Williams not be able to answer the call and help Chicago bounce back from their woeful 2024 campaign, then the former USC Trojan may find himself on the chopping block.
His teammate Odunze, though, may just be able to help Williams climb the Bears up out of years of mediocrity.
Odunze, who was the ninth overall pick in the 2024 draft, has been touted as one to watch to have a breakout year in 2025.
This comes in light of a head coaching change, with Matt Eberflus having been ousted mid-way through the 2024 season after a 14-32 losing record, and just a general overall dysfunction within the organization.
But now, former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is at the helm, and it is expected that this appointment will unlock Williams’ ‘generational talent’, and in turn, see Odunze’s numbers skyrocket.
In his debut season, the wide-receiver mustered a modest 734 yards from 54 receptions and three touchdowns.
The Washington Huskies standout also averaged 13.6 yards per reception.
But this level of production was a far cry from his college numbers, where he recorded two 1000-plus yard seasons – 3,272 receiving yards overall across his four-year collegiate career – at an average of 15.3 yards per reception, and 26 total touchdowns.
The 23-year-old pass-catcher has faith in his quarterback, though, stating his belief that he and Williams can form a ‘dynamic’ duo that will light up the NFL.
In an interview with Fox Sports’ Eric Williams, Odunze opened up about what it was like developing his on-field chemistry with his signal caller, as well as how Johnson’s arrival has already had an impact.
“It was great,” Odunze said about working with Williams. “We already have had moments and glimpses of that chemistry.
“Hopefully, it’s something that can go on for the next decade — be a dynamic duo that goes down as legendary.
“We both improved in our own respective positions, and I feel like that has been the biggest thing — both of us kind of stepping back and being like, “OK, let me be the best wide receiver for C-Will, and let C-Will be the best quarterback for all of his wide receivers.”
“That has been a big step in the process, as well as Ben [Johnson] and all the new coaches encouraging us and demanding a lot of us, which is exactly what we need.”
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