From role player to key contributor: Zaccheaus finding his place in Chicago

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 5 hours ago

CHICAGO - Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus has been a part of a lot of games during his seven seasons in the NFL. However, he may never have been in a game like Chicago’s win against the Cincinnati Bengals.

While the game was electric, Zaccheaus also acknowledged the Bears had a chance to win the game in all three phases without it coming down to rookie tight end Colston Loveland’s touchdown.

“I think all three phases had a chance to end the game where it doesn’t even have to come down to a play like Colson’s play at the end,” Zaccheaus said. “There’s definitely room to improve, and when we have a chance to end the game, we have to end the game, whether that be on special teams, on defense, or on offense.”

Chicago’s signing of Zaccheaus was a bit of an under-the-radar move. Especially with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore already on the roster and the Bears using their first second-round draft pick on receiver Luther Burden III, Zaccheaus was not expected to be as much of a factor.

However, through the first eight games of the season, Zaccheaus is tied with Odunze for the most receptions out of any receiver on the offense.

He said this is the result of head coach Ben Johnson’s purposeful efforts to get everyone involved in the offense.

“There’s a lot of playmakers on this offense. So, I think he makes it a point to have something in for everybody (each) week, which makes it easier to be involved in the game and just be locked in and tuned in and it’s not like that everywhere,” Zaccheaus said. “But, I think Ben does a good job of making sure everybody feels like they’re part of the offense (and) a part of the game plan.”

This is Johnson’s first season as a head coach. However, it is going well to this point. Chicago is 5-3 with a realistic chance to make the playoffs if it can get some wins in the division. Johnson clearly has command of the locker room as evidenced by his “Good, Better, Best” chant at the end of each game.

Especially as someone who has played for multiple teams during his career, Zaccheaus has noticed Johnson’s passion and authenticity as a head coach.

“He sets the standard for everybody in the building, and he’s very passionate about it,” Zaccheaus said. “You can just tell, he’s authentically himself and he’s such an easy coach to play for because you just see how real and true he is day-in and day-out and how much he cares about the vision and our purpose here.”

The Bears have a tough stretch coming up. After they face the 2-7 New York Giants on Sun. Nov. 9 (Noon / FOX), they will have four straight games against teams with non-losing records - the Minnesota Vikings on Sun. Nov. 16 (Noon / FOX), the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sun. Nov. 28 (Noon / CBS), the Philadelphia Eagles on Fri. Nov. 28 (2 p.m. / Amazon) during Amazon’s Black Friday game and the Green Bay Packers on Sun. Dec. 7 (Noon / FOX).

Those four games have the chance to make or break their season. If Chicago can get some wins during this stretch, especially against the Vikings and Packers, since those are division games and the Bears are already 0-2 in the division, Chicago could have a real shot at making the playoffs for the first time since 2020.