Rome Odunze speaks about Seattle with warmth, familiarity, and unmistakable pride. But when it comes to the Seahawks' Super Bowl appearance, his emotions draw a quieter, more nuanced line.
The former Washington Huskies star isn't rooting for Seattle's NFL team to win it all. He isn't backing the New England Patriots either. Instead, Odunze finds himself in an unusual middle ground—supportive of the city, detached from the matchup.
"I love the city of Seattle," Odunze said. "I know how passionate they are about their teams."
It's a careful distinction, and one that feels increasingly common among modern athletes whose identities stretch beyond a single franchise or fan base. For Odunze, Seattle represents a chapter of growth rather than allegiance.
A consensus All-American at Washington and a key figure in the Huskies' run to the 2023 College Football Playoff championship game, Odunze experienced the city at a moment when its sports culture was surging. That connection, he says, hasn't faded—even as his professional career has taken him elsewhere.
Now entering his third NFL season with the Chicago Bears, Odunze's trajectory has been anything but smooth. After being selected in the first round of the 2024 draft, he flashed promise early. His rookie campaign saw him post 54 receptions for 734 yards while appearing in all 17 games.
The following year, he began carving out an even larger role in Chicago's offense before a stress fracture in his foot sidelined him for the final five games of the regular season.
Still, Odunze returned in time for the playoffs, contributing four catches for 88 yards across two postseason games. It was a reminder of the skill set that once made him a dominant force in the Pac-12.
Along the way, he's also had a firsthand look at Seattle's defense. In a low-scoring, rain-soaked matchup late in the 2024 season, the Seahawks edged the Bears 6–3 in Chicago. Odunze finished with just one catch for 15 yards, a quiet night shaped by a defensive unit he now describes with respect.
"They bring a physical mindset to football," he said. "That's exactly what they want over there in Seattle."
Yet the player Odunze seems most eager to watch this Super Bowl isn't wearing a Patriots or Seahawks helmet—it's Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The two wide receivers came up in the same 2020 recruiting class, their paths unfolding in parallel at Ohio State and Washington. While Smith-Njigba was emerging nationally with the Buckeyes, Odunze was building his own reputation in Seattle. Those early conversations left an impression.
"I always knew he was ready to break out," Odunze said, reacting to Smith-Njigba's NFL Offensive Player of the Year honor. "It's dope to see the emergence he's had."
That admiration underscores the complexity of Odunze's position. He respects the Seahawks' talent. He appreciates what the city represents. But fandom, for him, no longer fits neatly into geographic loyalty.
Seattle, meanwhile, continues to ride a remarkable wave of success. Over the past six years, nearly every major professional and collegiate team in the city has reached a championship stage. From the Storm to the Sounders, the Huskies to the Reign, and now the Seahawks, the pattern is impossible to ignore.
Odunze was part of that momentum. His Huskies not only reached the national title game but also claimed the program's first Sugar Bowl. Watching from afar now, he recognizes what it means for a sports-driven city.
"It's a big sports town," he said. "I'm excited to see their team in the mix."
Still, as the Super Bowl unfolds, Odunze's stance lingers in an intriguing gray area—one that reflects both gratitude and distance.
He's cheering for Seattle. Just not necessarily for the Seahawks.