Odunze had a strong start to the year before being hampered by a foot injury. He became the first Bears player to score a touchdown in each of the first four games of a season since Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton in 1986 and was the only NFL player to have a TD reception in each of the first four games in 2025.
“He’s a pro,” coach Ben Johnson said of Odunze early in the season. “He comes into the building, and he looks to get after work, and he’s taken to that receiver room. Those guys really all mesh well together. It’s the hard work mentality … I see him as a leader here on this team.”
Odunze missed the final five regular-season games before returning for the playoffs, catching two passes for 44 yards against the Packers and recording an identical stat line a week later in the Divisional Round versus the Rams.
One of his catches in the wild card win over Green Bay was one of the most important plays of the season. Trailing 27-16 with just over five minutes remaining and the Bears facing fourth-and-8 from their own 43, Odunze caught a 27-yard pass from Williams in traffic, sustaining the drive and keeping his team’s hopes alive.