Story byCameron BelcherMon, January 19, 2026 at 8:36 PM UTC·2 min readRome Odunze gets honest about his contribution during the 2025 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The Chicago Bears lost an overtime thriller to the Los Angeles Rams, ending their amazing and unexpectedly great run this season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementComing into the season, it was clear that Chicago had the potential to have a better year than the disappointing first season in the Caleb Williams era, but with a year of development and a first-time head coach, Ben Johnson, the Bears were able to win a playoff game and bring hope for the future. However, the Bears don't want to celebrate making significant improvements; it's obvious they wanted to be the last team standing, like every other team at the end of the season, and with playoff losses, emotions are at an all-time high as players reflect on the season. More: That throw is why the Bears drafted Caleb Williams 1st overallSecond-year wide receiver Rome Odunze was pretty hard on himself when discussing how much he feels he helped the Bears win. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I gotta step through and proceed to be a catalyst to this team's success, and I don't feel like I did that well enough this season," Odunze confessed in his exit interview. To give Odunze the benefit of the doubt, the receiver battled a stress fracture in his foot for most of the season, missing five games, and was attempting to play through it in the postseason, where he had only 4 catches across the games against the Green Bay Packers and Rams. However, fans saw last season what the receiver can do when he is healthy, but it's clear Odunze blames himself for not being as available as he'd like, which is why he doesn't believe he played a big enough role in the team's success. More Bears news:Bears' Colston Loveland makes NFL history never done by a rookie tight end beforeVideo shows un-Bear-able pain as QB Caleb Williams exits playoff stageWhat did Caleb Williams see on that miraculous TD pass to Cole Kmet?3 reasons Caleb Williams, Bears aren't a playoff fluke and here to stay as NFC contendersBears' list of 2026 NFL draft picks, free agents and cap space going into offseasonCaleb Williams interceptions today: Bears QB throws away Chicago's comeback chances in OT loss to Rams.