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New York Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Bears fan survey results: Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams have many believers in Chicago
Nearly 4,000 Chicago Bears fans had their voices heard and made one thing clear. There is unprecedented belief in new coach Ben Johnson. Whether it's confidence in Johnson's play calling, optimism that he will get the best out of quarterback Caleb Williams, or his coaching style, Bears fans finally feel good about the coach — and he hasn't had his first game yet. Advertisement Fans are excited about the Williams-Rome Odunze pairing, too. They welcome the Joe Thuney addition. And with Thuney, fellow guard Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman in the fold, they finally aren't too worried about the offensive line. With training camp around the corner, let's dive into the results of our sixth annual Bears fan survey. Confidence in Williams overall did increase, despite a sometimes shaky rookie season. Most notably, the number of Bears fans who are worried that Williams won't pan out plummeted from 7.4 percent last season to 0.6 percent this year. The Halas Hall structure was a worst-case scenario for Williams, going through two play callers and two head coaches in his first season. But fans saw enough to still believe in his potential. How does this compare with the pre-Year 2 perception of Justin Fields, who was about to start with a new coach after showing some flashes as a rookie? It's not as big a disparity as one might think, but Williams still has inspired more believers. The Ben Johnson Effect was in full effect for this question, with an overwhelming majority believing the new coach and play caller will have the biggest impact on Williams. The Bears are certainly paying him to, and he has the accolades from his time with Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions that he can help Williams get to the next level. It was somewhat surprising to see Johnson defeat the offensive line that badly, considering how long it's been since fans could feel confident about the group up front. We received several write-in votes for 'all of the above,' which beat out the rookie pass catchers. A few people also noted that Williams' simply getting the rookie experience will help him the most in Year 2. Clunkiness prevented one of the choices from being 'holding on to the ball too long and taking sacks,' so it's possible voters considered both pocket presence and situational awareness to be examples of that, as those two traits combined for nearly 80 percent. One storyline to track will be how in sync Williams and wide receiver DJ Moore can be this season. It never seemed to fully click last season, for myriad reasons. The confidence meter for Johnson is off the charts. Only 42 voters selected '1' or '2.' For perspective, Johnson's 34.3 percent vote share for '5' — most confident — is nearly seven times more than what Matt Eberflus received ahead of his first season as coach. When's the last time Bears fans could be legitimately excited about a new playbook? Matt Nagy's first season included several fun plays and an offense that ranked ninth in points scored, but you have to go back to Marc Trestman's first season (2013) to find a Bears offense that ranked better than 15th in total offense (eighth). That history is reflected in these results, with fans enthusiastic about what Johnson brings to offensive play calling. Advertisement Here are some of the write-in responses: 'His insistence that the details are done correctly.' 'Creating a culture of accountability while still being innovative.' 'I've decided that 'coach speech' is just 'coach without any ideas speech.' I appreciate he is specific with his media answers and avoids 'coach without any ideas speech.'' 'He seems like one of those superstar execs you come across — no BS, honest, curious enough to get to the depth of a problem and provide thoughtful responses. That may be hyperbole, but consider me impressed.' No surprise Thuney won this one, but it's a little surprising how much he dominated it. That shows how much this franchise has missed out on having someone of Thuney's stature on the offensive line over the years. Bears fans love their centers. This is the franchise of Bulldog Turner, Olin Kreutz, Jay Hilgenberg and Roberto Garza. That context helps illustrate the gap between Drew Dalman and the rest of the newcomers. It's a similar vote share for this question, but I wanted to highlight defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who received only 5.8 percent of the votes, well below Dalman. Jarrett's impact could be massive in the locker room, something that won't be seen in the stat sheet, and he did have only 2 1/2 sacks last season. But he didn't miss a start and still had 12 quarterback hits. If it were up to general manager Ryan Poles, I wonder whether he hopes Dayo Odeyingbo is the ultimate answer. That would be a major win for the front office if he breaks out as a major threat off the edge. The top three picks all generate a lot of buzz with the fans. Colston Loveland, being a top-10 pick inserted in Johnson's offense, is the obvious winner, but college football fans are well aware of Luther Burden's capabilities. And boy, how ecstatic would Bears fans be if Ozzy Trapilo winds up the long-term answer at left tackle? This question probably shouldn't have included Williams, but I was wondering what the gap would be between the quarterback and Odunze. It's still sizable. One could perceive this question as who is going to break out, and defensive end Austin Booker would be a good option … but not many perceive it that way. More on Odunze's popularity to come. The Bears head into 2025 with Montez Sweat, who had only 5 1/2 sacks last season, and newcomer Odeyingbo as the starting defensive ends, followed by Booker and Dominique Robinson. There's not a lot of depth, and there are a lot of questions, as seen in these results. How about the drastic shift for the offensive line? In the history of the survey, it's the lowest percentage of people ranking the offensive line atop their concerns list. Running back, another 'draft need' position at which the Bears didn't take anyone until Round 7, makes sense as the second-place finisher here. There will be a lot of pressure on D'Andre Swift. Quarterback came in fourth place, which doesn't necessarily jibe with the opening question about Williams. And how can fans be concerned about Williams' backups? The trio of Moore, Odunze and Burden puts fans at ease when it comes to wide receiver. I'd probably argue that the runner-up, cornerback, is the deepest position when you consider guys like Terell Smith and Josh Blackwell are backups. It's a fun competition to compare Moore, Odunze and Burden to Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson. The numbers for the Bears chairman are pretty similar to last year, likely reflective of the way the franchise was able to land Johnson as coach. Bears chairman George McCaskey's 'F' grade went down from 11.4 percent in 2024 to 4.1 percent this summer. His 'C' share did go up from 27 percent to 31.3. This is the first time we've put the report card out for Bear president/CEO Kevin Warren. In 2023, after Warren was hired, 41 percent put '4' to rank their confidence in him, and 19.9 percent entered '5.' Those were (probably) record numbers for a Bears front-office member — at least until Johnson arrived. Two years later, a new stadium isn't under construction yet, and the team has struggled. That might explain why a plurality of voters went with 'C.' Warren's ability to help hire Johnson has to also be a factor with 'B' as a close second. Last year, most fans weren't sucked into the Bears' announcement of putting everything into building a new stadium downtown at the museum campus. Despite the team's singular focus at this time last year on Chicago, 60.8 percent said they expected Arlington Heights to be the Bears' home in 2030. This summer, now that we know the team has shifted back to the suburbs, that percentage went up nearly 13 points, while only 8.4 percent of you still have hope for a new stadium downtown. If the team can actually get a shovel in the ground this year, we'll have to come up with a new stadium-related question in 2026. This might have been the most interesting distribution of votes. I did not know what to expect, but many fans seem to be unmoved by the Bears' impression of the Michael Scott 'snip snap' meme from 'The Office.' The back-and-forth between the city and the suburbs has bothered 35.8 percent of you, but most are either not at all frustrated or simply indifferent. Williams' vote share went down slightly and Odunze's increased. There are a lot of Odunze fans in town. He has the playmaking potential and the personality to win over Chicago. The biggest mover was Moore, who went from 17.2 percent last year down to 4.1 percent. Maybe a lot of fans already have his jersey? Maybe it's a sign of a shift to Odunze and Burden? Sweat also saw his votes decrease extensively, which isn't surprising after a tough season. Meanwhile, Jaylon Johnson saw his percentage double, and Gordon, recent recipient of a new contract, made the top eight. Bears fans still love their punter. As I mentioned last year, jersey purchasing should include staying power. An effective punter has that, and Taylor should be here for a long time. It's another win for Sid Luckman, his fourth in a row. However, his vote share decreased by 2.6 percent, so he'll need a strong 2025 season ahead in next summer's survey. Jay Cutler and Jim McMahon chipped away at his lead. Williams received 40 votes, followed by Erik Kramer (23) and Kyle Orton (14). Some semblance of 'no one' received 28 votes, and there was one vote for the franchise's all-time leader in passer rating: Pat O'Donnell. For the second year in a row, '2021 Russell Wilson saying he wanted to be traded to the Bears' got a vote. And to the voter who wrote, 'What kind of monster asks this EVERY year,' it's my sociological experiment. Maybe one day Williams will let me eliminate this question from the survey. Another year, another dominant victory for Walter Payton, the greatest running back in NFL history. This year, he nearly quadrupled Brian Urlacher's second-place vote total. The order behind 'Sweetness' remained the same as last year — Urlacher, Devin Hester, Charles Tillman, Dick Butkus, Matt Forte and Gale Sayers. Advertisement A few entertaining 'remember these Bears?' entries: Harold Jones-Quartey, Brad Maynard, Devin Aromashodu and Mac Percival. ESPN 1000's Tom Waddle received 14 votes — twice as many as Williams, but four shy of Akiem Hicks. For the second year in a row, a plurality of Bears fans believe this team can win nine games. A curiosity of expectations led me to bump the scale up to between seven and 11 wins. Last year, 9.9 percent of voters went with 'seven wins' or 'six wins or fewer.' Only 4.2 percent went with seven or fewer this year. Somewhere between eight and 10 wins seems to be the right range for this team for 2025, and not many fans got too irrationally excited about an 11-plus-win team. Yes, the scale was altered, but 28.9 percent of fans believe the Bears can win at least 10 games, which bests 2020's mark of 24.8 percent as the survey's high-water mark for double-digit-win optimism. (Photo of Caleb Williams: David Banks / USA Today)
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears WR Rome Odunze predicted to have breakout season under Ben Johnson
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for the 2025 NFL season, where there's plenty of excitement with new head coach Ben Johnson leading the charge. There's no shortage of talent on the roster, including some young players poised to make big contributions in 2025. Bucky Brooks unveiled his 2025 All-Breakout Team that featured one prominent second-year player: Wide receiver Rome Odunze, who he believes will benefit significantly from the addition of Johnson. Ben Johnson's arrival and Caleb Williams' expected development should result in increased production for the Bears' WR2 in 2025. As a big-bodied playmaker with sticky hands and rugged running skills, Odunze can excel as a possession receiver in a ball-control offense that frequently targets the middle of the field. With Williams instructed to play on time, the QB should find the second-year receiver early and often, with opponents forced to defend a multi-faceted attack that efficiently mixes run and pass plays with a creative approach. The addition of Johnson will no doubt elevate the entire offense, and there are some young playmakers, like Odunze, who serve to benefit the most. Brooks believes Odunze has the potential to thrive as a target in the middle of the field and could benefit from the abundance of weapons on the field. Odunze had a respectable rookie season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns despite being the third receiver behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. But with Allen no longer in Chicago, the stage is set for Odunze to have a bigger role on offense – especially with Johnson running the show and as his rapport with Williams continues to flourish. This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears WR Rome Odunze predicted to have breakout season
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
A rising Bears wideout just made a list that signals big things ahead in 2025
A rising Bears wideout just made a list that signals big things ahead in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Buzz surrounds Chicago's new regime, but a second-year WR may be the key to it all. With all the talk surrounding the Chicago Bears' recent influx of talent—highlighted by Ben Johnson's arrival as head coach and a revamped staff—it's easy to overlook returning players. But one familiar name is quietly picking up serious momentum heading into Year 2. A wide receiver from last year's rookie class is now being spotlighted by NFL analysts as a key breakout candidate for 2025. Advertisement That wide receiver is Rome Odunze. The second-year pro showed real flashes during his rookie campaign, playing in all 17 games and starting 12. He finished the year with 54 receptions for 734 yards and 3 touchdowns—numbers that, while solid, now appear to be just the beginning. CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 21: A detail view of a Chicago Bears helmet is seen resting on a cooler during a preseason game between the Chicago Bears and the Buffalo Bills on August 21, 2021 at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) analysts have recognized his potential by naming him to the 2025 NFL All-Breakout Team, Offense. According to their breakdown, Ben Johnson's offensive design and Caleb Williams' expected progression should elevate Odunze's role significantly. 'Ben Johnson's arrival and Caleb Williams' expected development should result in increased production for the Bears' WR2 in 2025. As a big-bodied playmaker with sticky hands and rugged running skills, Odunze can excel as a possession receiver in a ball-control offense that frequently targets the middle of the field. With Williams instructed to play on time, the QB should find the second-year receiver early and often, with opponents forced to defend a multi-faceted attack that efficiently mixes run and pass plays with a creative approach.' Advertisement Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm J. Rebilas/Imagn Images The excitement hasn't just come from analysts. Fans on X, like @dave_bfr, shared clips during the 2024 season highlighting Odunze's crisp route running and physical style. One post from his rookie year read, 'Rome is gonna be elite under Ben.' That early praise is now looking prophetic. With training camp just about a week away, the buzz in Chicago is growing. A new coaching staff, a rookie quarterback with elite talent, and now a rising second-year wideout—all signs point to an exciting, possibly transformative year for the Bears. Related: Bears Roll the Dice With 4 Bold Signings Before Camp Related: Colston Loveland Injury Recovery Update: Bears Rookie Nears Camp Return This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Who is Rome Odunze? Meet the Dairy-Farming, Big-Play Bears Wide Receiver
When Rome Odunze was digging ditches on a Utah dairy farm as a kid, who knew he would grow up to play in a national championship game and be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft? One of seven receivers selected in the first round last year, Odunze finished his rookie season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns playing with fellow rookie Caleb Williams. And even though the Chicago Bears went 5-12 and head coach Matt Eberflus was fired midseason, Odunze looks to use 2024 as a jumping-off point for a breakout second year. Take note, fantasy players. During the NFL's recent Player Personal Branding and Social Workshop in Los Angeles, I caught up with the 23-year-old pass-catcher. We discussed everything from Odunze's dairy-farm days to his heady college days at Washington, from learning Ben Johnson's offense to appreciating his Nigerian heritage. You have a unique background, spending summers on your maternal grandparents' dairy farm in Utah and also with your father being the son of Nigerian immigrants. How did that help to shape who you are? Rome Odunze: With that mix of hard-working immigrants and hard-working farmers, I feel like I have a great work ethic in that sense, and a better world view than maybe someone born and raised in America or [someone who] doesn't have that connection to outside cultures. So it's really helped me. Of course, working on the farm was a great experience, getting to learn the labor of that and the thankless job that it is. It's the kind of mindset that you have to have being a football player, because you've got to do your job regardless of what happens on that field. And having that [Nigerian] heritage has opened my eyes to a broader sense of purpose, family, legacy and all those different types of things. So I feel like it's been good for me. What's the hardest job you did on the farm? Odunze: The hardest thing I did on the farm was dig ditches for fence posts and water channels. Doing that in the heat of the Utah desert is wicked. So yeah, I definitely think I got heatstroke when I was out there. That was crazy. What was your takeaway from your first season in Chicago, and what is your approach this offseason based on how you performed? Odunze: I feel like it was a foundation-setting season. Coming from college to the NFL, it's definitely a change, from the things you have to do to the requirements on and off the field. So having that time to navigate those things through the pressure of a rookie season and trying to help turn around an organization, it was a unique experience. I learned a lot. Heading into Year 2, I'm working to improve all those things, and now I understand the environment and space that I'm in at the NFL level. So it's just improving all facets on and off the field: my wide receiver play, film study, engaging with my teammates and my leadership — all those different aspects. What was it like playing with Caleb Williams, and how can you improve your chemistry in Year 2? Odunze: It was great. 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 and all the new coaches encouraging us and demanding a lot of us, which is exactly what we need. You mention the new coaching staff. Now that Ben Johnson is there, what's it been like learning that new offense and how do you see yourself fitting into it? Odunze: It's been tough, which is a good sign. From Day 1, it's been very detail-oriented and strict requirements within the offense. Everything is down to every yard on the field, whether that's alignment, assignment, technique or execution. All the things they've been harping on, I feel like it's been a good set up for us. It's a bit of a change, understanding that everything in this league counts, regardless of what it is. It's a game of inches. That has really expedited the process for us, and we're still, of course, building. We have training camp coming up and then we get into the season. But it's been great so far. What was it like playing in that high-octane offense at Washington and going to the title game with Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies' talented receiving core? Odunze: It was a historic season for us and a historic group, so I'm super honored and grateful to have been a part of it. I love Penix. He's a dawg, and he's one of the best players I've ever played with. I'm excited to see his development and finally stepping into that role of a solidified QB1 — not having to be under Kirk [Cousins] and all of that. I think he's going to excel in his new role in that offense. Watching him last season when they made that change and how he was already starting to become a star, I think it's just going to roll into next season. I think Penix is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. And that goes for my wide receiver peers as well. Ja'Lynn Polk is doing his thing with the Patriots. He's got Stefon [Diggs] as mentor with him now, which I kind of had last year with DJ [Moore] and Keenan [Allen]. I'm super grateful for them, and it's also great to see Polk with his new mentor. That offense is going to get rolling with all the new pieces they've added. I'm excited for him. And J-Mac [Jalen McMillan] in Tampa, he has a couple mentors in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, so I know that's been awesome for him. He balled out and just kept ramping up toward the end of the season, with like six consecutive touchdowns or something [seven in his last five games]. So I'm sure he's going to have a good season as well. Where did you work out this offseason? Odunze: I train in Orange County. My agency, Excel Sports, is out there, and they have a facility I train at. So I get to enjoy Orange County, relax a little bit and let the season die down and my body recover. But also keep the pedal down with the lifting and conditioning at the facility. You also work with T.J. Houshmandzadeh during the offseason. What's it like working with T.J.? Odunze: It's been great. He's a great coach. I send him videos and clips of my routes all the time because I think he's one of the greatest to ever play the game. He's always giving me tidbits and working on my craft. He's been a great help to me. You had several questions for speakers at the NFL branding symposium. What do you hope to get out of this as an athlete who wants to take advantage of your platform? What have you learned so far? Odunze: I've learned a lot. I think there's so many avenues and spaces you can step into in this realm. It's such a huge thing. It can be a more personal thing, or you can create something more interesting [on social media]. I'm just trying to learn how I want to approach it. It's a space you want to have some knowledge about before you enter it. And I'm definitely in that realm. I mean, I'm not big into social media, but I definitely think it's a useful platform for a voice — whether that's something I want to speak on, content creation or something about lifestyle or a particular interest that I have. I just feel like it's a very useful tool, so I'm looking at it as an asset. Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears WR Rome Odunze dubbed breakout fantasy candidate in 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is primed for a breakout year following an encouraging rookie season where he flashed his playmaking ability and chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams. Odunze didn't have a big year like New York's Malik Nabers or Jacksonville's Brian Thomas Jr., but he had a respectable season with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns as the third wideout behind veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Advertisement Now, with Allen out of Chicago, Odunze is stepping into a bigger role with new head coach Ben Johnson calling the shots on offense, and the sky's the limit for the former ninth overall pick. In fact, Pro Football Focus' Jonathon Macri believes Odunze is a candidate for breakout player in fantasy football in 2025 and should have fantasy owners on the lookout. Odunze's fit in this new offense is crucial to his fantasy success, as he'll likely start the year opposite DJ Moore as the team's WR2. Depending on how well he learns the new playbook and is able to translate that knowledge into success on the field, that role can even grow to eventually overtake Moore as the WR1, playing a similar role in this offense as Amon-Ra St. Brown did for the Detroit Lions these past few seasons under Johnson. St. Brown's role in Johnson's offense has required a little more than half of the player's routes to come from the slot, and while Moore is typically closer to the average slot receiver's size, Odunze shouldn't be ruled out of that spot. In 2024, Odunze ran a higher rate of routes from the slot than Moore and was even more effective in that role. Macri mentioned Odunze's fit in Johnson's offense as the biggest factor to his fantasy success, even noting that the second-year wideout has the potential to usurp veteran Moore as Chicago's WR1 and serve a similar role as Amon-Ra St. Brown in Detroit. Johnson has talked at length about the importance of the slot receiver in his offense, and there are several candidates to have significant impacts in that role, including Moore, rookie Luther Burden III, Olamide Zaccheaus and even Odunze. Heading into Year 2, Odunze is poised for a breakout season as he continues to develop his rapport with Williams and gets to work with one of the league's brightest offensive minds in Johnson, as well as wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El. Advertisement Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears WR Rome Odunze dubbed breakout fantasy candidate in 2025
