Former Huskies Rome Odunze and Byron Murphy Jr. faced off yesterday in the first Monday Night Football of the 2025 NFL season. Though the Bears wide receiver and Vikings cornerback never shared the sideline at Montlake, they lined up against one another throughout the night, with both sides making big plays.
Late in the second quarter, the Bears found themselves facing third-and-5 at the Vikings’ 27-yard line. Odunze motioned the formation and ran a speed out towards the sideline. Murphy pursued Odunze the entire way and met him just as the ball arrived, slamming the receiver into the turf two yards short of a first down and forcing a field goal which made it 10-6 Chicago at the half.
Husky on Husky violence with Byron Murphy leveling Rome Odunze.
— EJ Snyder (@FootballEJ) September 9, 2025
The two met again late in the fourth quarter. The Bears, down 27-17, were driving into Vikings territory with less than three minutes remaining, and now faced third-and-10 at the 34-yard line. The Bears were in need of a conversion, but had failed on nine of their last 10 attempts.
Odunze was lined up in the slot to the left of quarterback Caleb Williams, with Murphy Jr. a yard away in coverage. Odunze cut to the inside for a deep crossing route and attempted to fight past a physical Murphy Jr.
The pass sailed over Odunze’s head, but Murphy Jr. was called for illegal contact, resulting in a Bears first down. A few plays later, Odunze found a huge gap behind Murphy Jr. in the Vikings’ zone coverage, where Williams found him for a one-yard score with 2:02 remaining.
Caleb Williams. Rome Odunze. Touchdown Bears.#NFL pic.twitter.com/LbRFQWtf6z
— Sports Only (@SportsOnly____) September 9, 2025
The touchdown, Odunze’s first in three career games against Minnesota, wasn’t enough. Murphy Jr. and his visiting Vikings won 27-24.
Odunze, the ninth overall pick in 2024, finished with six receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown on the night. He tallied 54 receptions for 734 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie in 2024.
Murphy Jr., a second-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, tallied four solo tackles in the win. However, Pro Football Focus also credits him with allowing five receptions (including Odunze’s touchdown) on five targets for a total of 64 yards.
Odunze is still in search of his first win over Murphy Jr. and the Vikings. He’ll get another chance in Week 11, when the Bears travel to Minnesota.