Rome Odunze was born in America and grew up in Las Vegas. He is American to the core. However, he has a deep African heritage that goes back to Nigeria. His first name, Rome, came from his father, a self-proclaimed history buff with a deep fascination with the Roman Empire. As for the last name, Odunze, that means “King’s Ivory.” Needless to say, he always seemed connected to men of high status from the moment he was born, from European emperors to African kings. People may not realize how real that is.
In the latest episode of Meet The Rookies on YouTube, Bears fans got to meet Rome’s grandfather, James Odunze. He came over from Nigeria in 1972 to start a new life in the United States. As it turns out, his father, Rome’s great-grandfather, was an actual king.
Royalty in Africa has always been complex. There haven’t been many prominent ones over the years, and they have more to do with tribal connections than running actual countries. The roots go back many generations. For Odunze to have ties to it is fascinating.
It is a fascinating question. His father wouldn’t have met his mother, Necia Bunnell, who lived in Utah. His lineage could’ve ended up being far different. There is no telling if he would’ve developed a love for football and found his way to the NFL. Walking away from a noble family is not something easily done for young men like his grandfather. It took courage. One can only imagine the pride he must feel watching his grandson play in a national championship and now join a charter franchise like the Bears.
One thing is for sure. If Rome Odunze plays at the same level he did in college, Chicago will treat him like royalty for the rest of his life. They’ve been dying for a genuine Hall of Fame-worthy receiver for the longest time. Odunze feels like the first player since Alshon Jeffery to have the necessary tools to pull that off. The trick is staying healthy and producing at a high enough level over a long period. It should be tons of fun watching him develop. Like a young prince ascending to his throne.
