Odunze Scores First Bears Touchdown of Season

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze caught his first touchdown of the 2026 season, helping put Chicago ahead 7-0 over Tampa Bay.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football

Odunze Scores First Bears Touchdown of Season

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze scored his first touchdown of the season on Sunday, November 8, 2026, catching a pass from Caleb Williams on the team's first drive. The score gave the Bears a 7-0 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Why it matters

The early touchdown gave Chicago an immediate advantage in a game against Tampa Bay and marked the first scoring contribution from Odunze this season. The play also carried a tribute, as Odunze celebrated with the home run swing of injured tight end Cole Kmet.

Odunze's touchdown gave Chicago a 7-0 lead over Tampa Bay on the Bears' opening drive, according to the game play record. The extraction does not include his receiving yards, target count, or how the score compares to his prior-season production.

The players

Rome Odunze

Rome Odunze is a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Washington.

Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams is the quarterback for the Chicago Bears and was the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of USC.

Cole Kmet

Cole Kmet is a tight end for the Chicago Bears who has played his entire NFL career with the franchise since being drafted in the second round in 2020.

The details

Odunze hauled in a pass from quarterback Caleb Williams on the Bears' first drive of the game. He then performed Cole Kmet's home run swing celebration and looked into the camera, saying "Cole, like I said! We love you boy!" Odunze had also missed a scoring opportunity two plays before the touchdown.

Sunday, November 8, 2026: Odunze scores first touchdown of the season against Tampa Bay.

Season Trajectory

Kmet's injury removes a key tight end from the Bears' offense for the remainder of the season, placing added weight on the receiving group that Odunze's early score helps anchor. The early 7-0 lead also gives Chicago a positive start against a Tampa Bay team in the middle of its own season.

With Cole Kmet out for the rest of the season, Chicago's tight end depth chart will shift and fantasy managers who rostered Kmet will need to replace him. Odunze's first touchdown adds to his production for fantasy lineups heading into the next game.

The takeaway

Injuries to key contributors often open opportunities for teammates to step up, and Odunze's early score shows the Bears' receivers are contributing even as the offense adjusts. Fans and fantasy managers should track how Chicago distributes targets without Kmet.