Matt Eberflus made it his mission to reconnect with the legacy of the Chicago Bears when he took over as head coach. That meant reconnecting with veteran players who carved out great careers with the team. By far, his favorite is Charles Tillman. The former Pro Bowl cornerback spoke to the team’s rookie class each of the past two years. Both speeches were excellent. So, unsurprisingly, Eberflus brought him back again for this year. The latest episode of 1920 Football Drive caught all of it on camera as Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and others took it in.
His message was honest and straightforward. All the work they’ve done to reach this point pales in comparison to what comes next. They must be ready to fight tooth and nail to make the roster, never mind get on the field. The best thing to do is be accountable and ask the coaches for advice on how to be better. Run towards criticism. Above all, be a good teammate. One person this seemed to resonate with the most was Rome Odunze. The 9th overall pick listened with rapt attention and showed the most enthusiasm when the rookie walked out onto Soldier Field for the first time.
He’s a big, athletic player with a unique talent for playing the ball. He’s also a tireless worker who isn’t afraid to be physical. Odunze’s father has a passion for military history. Tillman’s father was a military man. It shouldn’t be a surprise the young receiver seemed to grasp what the former Bears star was trying to say. Coaches have already taken notice of his progress on the field. Eberflus even singled Odunze out for how sharp he looked in OTAs and mandatory minicamps.
The best thing about Tillman is he’s not lying to anybody. He isn’t sugarcoating the NFL experience. The worst thing he could do is try to puff guys up with assurances that everything will be find. That is just setting them up to fail. Tell the truth. Make it clear that their careers will never get off the ground unless they embrace the grind. Rome Odunze seems ready and willing to do that. When a player of that talent level does so, great things tend to follow.
