Meet Chicago Bears Player Rome Odunze’s Parents, Necia Bunnell and James Odunze
Meet Chicago Bears Player Rome Odunze’s Parents, Necia Bunnell and James Odunze
Skyler Caruso, Samantha StutsmanSun, October 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC
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Necia Bunnell, Rome Odunze and James Odunze at the 2024 NFL DraftChicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze credits his parents for his work ethic -
Chicago Bears receiver Rome Odunze was born to mom Necia Bunnell and dad James Odunze in 2002
They raised him in Nevada and encouraged him to embrace his Nigerian heritage
Bunnell is a real estate agent
Rome Odunze’s biggest fans are his parents, Necia Bunnell and James Odunze.
The Chicago Bears wide receiver was born on June 3, 2002 and raised in Las Vegas by Bunnell and James. His father’s love of history even inspired his name, which pays tribute to the Roman Empire, Rome revealed during an April 2024 appearance on The Pivot Podcast.
Rome developed a passion for football at a young age, becoming a standout high school player before joining the University of Washington in 2020. Four years later, his NFL dreams came true when the Bears selected him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Following the draft, Rome credited his parents with shaping the work ethic that helped him reach the NFL.
“My family, my mother, my pops, where I come from, we’re all hardworking and determined people with tenacity,” he told USA Today in April 2024. “It was naturally instilled in me as a young man and continues to be instilled in me to this day.”
Here’s everything to know about Rome Odunze’s parents, Necia Bunnell and James Odunze.
His mom grew up in Provo, Utah
Rome Odunze and Necia BunnellCredit: Rome Odunze/Instagram
Bunnell grew up on her family’s dairy farm in Provo, Utah, where she learned the value of hard work at a young age. Today, she works as a real estate agent in Las Vegas, per LinkedIn, and credits her upbringing with shaping her work ethic.
“My upbringing on a dairy farm instilled the value of hard work,” she wrote in her realtor bio. “It is how I am wired and has simply become my way of life.”
Bunnell also credited her father with teaching her the importance of diligence, recalling how she helped care for the family’s cows before heading to school.
“I remember by age eight, having to get up early before school to go feed the cows,” she said in a video. “This [was] the place that I learned the values that I have and that I implement in my business today.”
His dad is Nigerian
Rome and James Odunze at the 2024 NFL DraftCredit: Aaron J. Thornton/Getty
Rome, whose last name means “King’s Ivory,” has been open about his heritage and how it’s shaped him to be the person that he is today. The American-born player is of Nigerian descent on his father’s side, which he says “means everything to [him].”
“Back home, my grandfather was one of 50 kids,” Rome told The Pivot Podcast. “My pops, that side of the family, is Nigerian heritage. It’s something that really drives me to keep doing what I’m doing because that’s where you come from.”
“African Americans sometimes don’t often know where they come from,” he continued. “So for me, I feel super blessed that I know where I come from. I know the village that my grandpa grew up in ... it’s about honoring them.”
Rome went on to explain what drives him to success. “Coming over here in America with nothing in your pocket and then having your grandson on this stage,” he said. “I just feel like we’ve been tremendously blessed and it’s my duty to keep uplifting the name.”
His parents enrolled him in a Catholic high school
Rome went to Bishop Gorman, a Nevada high school regarded as a “powerhouse” due to its notable alumni who’ve made the transition to professional sports upon graduating.
The athlete credited his mom and dad for enrolling him in the program, which laid the groundwork that set him up for his football success.
“If I’m really trying to go to do this thing, I’m going to go to Gorman,” Rome told The Pivot Podcast of his thought process when selecting a school in pursuit of his football dream. “My parents worked their asses off to make that happen.”
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Rome explained why he believes Bishop Gorman prepared him to be a standout receiver.
“I think it’s just how hard it is,” he said in reference to training in the Las Vegas summer heat. “They don’t have indoor. ... You’re grinding in 115°F, the turf is probably 130°-135°F ... There’s a progression with everything. Everything is goal oriented.”
Rome described the training as “militant,” especially as a young high school athlete. He also said that “being around so much talent” and “the stress” that came with it “builds you for the moment” when “going through those things emotionally and physically.”
In fact, the player recalled it being “so tremendously hard” that “college [was] easy” afterwards.
His parents instilled a strong work ethic in him at a young age
Rome Odunze speaks on SiriusXM at Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty
Rome’s parents sent him to work on his grandfather’s farm in Utah like his mom did when she was a kid. He opened up to The Pivot Podcast about the hard work ethic rooted in him at a young age during the summers he was away.
The athlete said it was “fun,” while adding it also “teaches you lessons.”
Rome explained, “Going there in the summers and farming is no joke. Taking care of animals when that’s your job and that’s what puts food on the table, it’s different because you’re dealing with living creatures.”
“My grandpa was waking up at 5:00 a.m. and staying up until 11:00 p.m. at night just feeding these animals and taking care of them,” he noted. “The work is the work. There’s just no room for excuses or else the whole thing crumbles... it was super humbling.”
“It taught me to grind,” Rome added.
His dad wants him to “do the best” he can
Rome’s family recognizes hard work — but rather than put pressure on specific goals, his family just wants him to try his hardest in all areas of his life.
“For me, there was never really a stress to make sure you’re a doctor or a lawyer, or anything like that. They just wanted me to be successful,” the football player said on The Pivot Podcast. “My pops always stressed to do the best you can do in every aspect of your life and for me, a lot of my life has been football or education.”
His mom is “thankful” for his football journey
Rome Odunze in 2026Credit: Kevin Sabitus/Getty
Bunnell is a proud mom who frequently cheers on Rome through birthday tributes, football highlights and heartfelt messages on social media.
In a June 2022 Instagram post, she described her son as “a man of great character, love, work ethic, vision and grit.”
Two years later, as Rome wrapped up his college football career, Bunnell shared an Instagram video featuring highlights from his four years at the University of Washington. “The first thought that comes to mind is gratitude and thankfulness for it all,” she wrote in January 2024, in part.
“I give thanks to all of our family and friends who have supported us on this journey,” she continued. “There have been so many who’ve sacrificed to travel to watch him play and many who’ve cheered him on from their homes. Thank you, it means so much to us!!”
A few months later, at the 2024 NFL Draft, Bunnell reflected on the years of dedication that led to her son’s big moment.
“The journey has been 15 years in the making,” she said during an interview with the NFL for Instagram. “This young man has worked extremely hard. He’s played through injuries and illness, and he’s just stuck with it.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
