Rome Odunze Gives Clear Explanation of Father’s Twitter Bashing of Dan Orlovsky

Rome Odunze offers clear explanation of father’s Twitter bashing of Dan Orlovsky originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Bears rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze has already learned that the NFL is a different beast. His father, James, has now learned the same lesson.

On Wednesday night, James Odunze took on X and posted a clip of Rome wide open in the endzone against the Tennessee Titans. The expected social media overreaction ensued, with fans and pontificators assuming that James Odunze was challenging rookie quarterback Caleb Williams for not finding his son for a score.

But in reality, James Odunze’s post was an attack on ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky, who recently criticized Rome for not creating a separation.

James Odunze eventually clarified his position and then lashed out at Orlovsky again.

Rome Odunze said Friday he was not surprised that his father defended him, but he wanted to make it clear that the tweets had nothing to do with anyone other than Orlovsky.

“Fathers are supposed to stick up for their sons,” Odunze said. “My dad is my Day One and he’s always going to root for me. Against anybody. But I think more than anything — I can’t speak for everything he does — I know one thing: It wasn’t out of disbelief in this team or disbelief in anybody in this organization. It’s not that. He just sticks up for me.”

The No. 9 overall pick said his father called to let him know he may have accidentally left some things out on social media. It’s something Rome Odunze is used to, but both he and his father are learning that they’re under a much bigger microscope in Chicago.

“He’s always been on social media defending me,” Odunze said. “Again, that’s my Pops. He does everything for me. But it’s a different phase in the NFL, as he and I both learned.

“Like I said, things can be misinterpreted to create a different narrative. He just told me, ‘I’ll always fight for you.’ And I know that. He’s always got my back. And he’s got this team’s back. … Those comments have nothing to do with disbelief in this team or anybody on this team. It’s purely him defending his son.”

Odunze suffered a medial ligament strain during the Bears’ Week 1 win over the Titans, but he played through and played last Sunday against the Texans.

While Odunze’s production hasn’t yet picked up, the Bears are confident it will happen.

“The validation of his mental and physical toughness,” head coach Matt Eberflus said when asked what he learned about Odunze playing in Week 2. “To be able to go out there and do what he did — he played basically every snap, for the most part — and then he came back the next week and kept working. He’s going to make some big plays for us.”

Expect James Odunze to let Orlovsky and other critics know if he does.

Click here to follow the Under Center Podcast.