During Organized Team Activities in early June, Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze spoke to the media at Halas Hall.
The Bears’ wide receiver was coming off a rookie season that ended with 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns. During the media availability, Odunze was asked about his goals heading into his second NFL season.
“This offseason I think I’ve just tried to build physically, mentally as well,” Odunze said. “Just trying to put myself in peak condition, spiritually, mentally, physically, for this season, for me to have the best season yet that I’ve had in this league. So that comes to a lot of different aspects, to focusing on the playbook, to focusing on the weight room, getting faster, getting stronger, all those different things. When it comes to goals-wise, I like to think about the team and winning games and making the playoffs. Individually, wanna go for 1,000 [yards], double-digit [touchdowns]. I haven’t honed in on any specific numbers yet, but I’ve always got those things in the back of my mind. I think when you’re doing the right things and you’re having success, and the team is having success, all the statistics and those numbers will come.”
Odunze has big goals and records in his sights for his sophomore season in the NFL
Through four games into Year 2, Odunze is well on his way to achieving those personal goals he set for himself. Odunze already has 20 catches, 296 yards, and five touchdowns. He’s scored a touchdown in each game so far this season.
The former No. 9 overall pick joined “The Rich Eisen Show” on Wednesday, and Eisen asked Odunze how many touchdowns he would like to score based on the five he already has this season.
Odunze started his answer by stating he didn’t have a number in mind, but then asked if the highest receiving touchdown total in a season was 23. Randy Moss set that record with the New England Patriots in 2007, a team that was led by future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Tom Brady and a Patriots team that finished 16-0 in the regular season.
“Yeah, if we not shooting for that, then we are selling ourselves short,” Odunze said. “So, I guess I got to go get 24.”
Eisen applauded that answer from the 23-year-old wide receiver.
Looking at the numbers, Moss had seven touchdowns through the first four games. In a 16-game season, Moss didn’t record a touchdown reception three times. He scored two touchdowns in seven games, and against the Buffalo Bills, he caught four touchdowns.
The second closest to Moss’ record was Jerry Rice’s 22 receiving touchdowns in 1987.
Read more: Rome Odunze has started to cement himself as one of the top receivers in the NFL
As Odunze said, he would be selling himself short if he didn’t set high goals for himself, but the 23 receiving touchdowns in a season may be a record that just can’t be broken.