Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears airs every Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET through Sept. 3 on HBO and is available to stream on Max.
Preparation is a crucial part in making any NFL player into a successful one.
In the second episode of Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday night, rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze conveyed his belief of just how invaluable preparation is to a pair of ninth-grade students after a practice.
“[NBA legend] Kobe [Bryant] said he never took a shot in a game that he didn’t take a thousand times in practice,” Odunze relayed to the teens. “It’s the same way in football. You should never catch a ball in a game that you ain’t caught a thousand times in practice.”
Odunze underscored that the work put in doesn't just build readiness, but confidence in your game.
“It’s just the preparation, you know what I mean?" he continued. "When you’re doing those things, when you’re doing that hard preparation, keep telling yourself like, ‘Hey, man, I’m out here working!’ The guy across me when it comes game time, he didn’t do that work I was putting in. All those things build confidence.”
At 22 years old, Odunze’s vocal wisdom is far beyond his years. This is only his first training camp, but he sounded like an established veteran.
Odunze was the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft -- eight slots after the Bears took his quarterback, Caleb Williams, with the top pick.
Williams and Bears head coach Matt Eberflus continued their dogged prep, as well, which included building chemistry between the QB and his fellow '24 first-rounder.
“I think it’s just getting on the same page with the wide receivers and knowing your stuff and then knowing your guys,” Williams said.
“Yep. You just gotta know their skill set, that’s all,” Eberflus replied.
Practice clips showed the young tandem working on its connection as Williams helped coordinate with Odunze on running particular routes in drills.
“Just get up to him and take him,” Williams directed to Odunze after a failed rep. “Cut his angle and then just go!”
The cameras cut to Odunze scoring a touchdown on the following play.
The young and talented pair are continuing to grow with the regular season -- and perhaps more Williams-to-Odunze touchdowns to come -- just a few weeks away.