Chris Odom

Born on September 16, 1994, Chris Odom has made a name for himself in the world of American football. Emerging from Martin High School in Arlington, Texas, Odom quickly distinguished himself as a force to be reckoned with on the gridiron.

In his senior year, Odom recorded 32 tackles, a feat that garnered him all-district honors as a defensive end. His prowess on the field was equaled only by his dedication off the gridiron – Odom was an active participant in his school’s track and field program.

Post high school, Odom played college football at Arkansas State, his athletic career stretching from 2013 to 2016. His freshman year saw him participate in all 13 games, recording a total of 8 solo tackles, 9 assist tackles, and 3 sacks.

In his sophomore year, Odom played in all 13 games, starting 3 and demonstrating formidable performance on the field, which included 12 solo tackles, 2 assist tackles, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, and 1 blocked kick.

However, it was during his junior season that he left an indelible mark. Despite playing in only 11 games, Odom managed to record 1 solo tackle, 2 tackle assists and tie the school’s third-highest record in blocked kicks for a single season with 3.

His senior year showcased his athletic prowess, earning him First-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. Odom participated in all 13 games that year, aggregating an impressive record of 28 solo tackles, 25 assist tackles, 12.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 blocked kick. He also appeared in the College Gridiron Showcase in January 2017.

On the academic front, Odom pursued a major in Sport Management at Arkansas State. His prowess on the football field earned him a rating as the 41st best defensive end in the 2017 NFL draft by NFLDraftScout.com.

Despite not getting drafted, the Atlanta Falcons signed Odom with a deal on May 1, 2017 – marking the start of his professional career. However, his tenure with the Falcons was short-lived as he was waived off on September 2, 2017.

Keen on utilising his skills, the Green Bay Packers claimed Odom off waivers on September 3, 2017. But much like his stint with the Falcons, his time with Packers was also cut short, as he was waived again on September 1, 2018.

Later in 2018, Odom joined the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), and with an impressive array of 7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, and 2 pass knockdowns, he once again established his place on the defensive line in the AAF.

In April 2019, Odom signed a two-year contract with the Falcons. However, similar to past instances, his stay was short-lived and he was waived on August 31, 2019. Barely missing a step, Odom was signed by the Washington Redskins’ practice squad in September 2019. His promising performance saw him released and re-signed multiple times within the squad, culminating in his promotion to the active roster in November 2019.

However, Odom’s stay with the Redskins was also short, spending less than a year with the team before being released on February 14, 2020. Moving north, Odom inked a deal with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League in February 2021.

Down south, the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League (USFL) drafted Odom in the second round of the 2022 USFL draft. He also had a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns before returning to the Gamblers in late 2023, where alongside the entire team, he was transferred to the Houston Roughnecks following a change in the team’s identity.

Through it all, Odom’s performance on the field has consistently been notable. In fact, during the 2022 season with the Gamblers, Odom led the USFL in sacks and was named its Defensive Player of the Year. Furthermore, his commendable performance in 2024 with the Roughnecks earned him his place in the All-UFL team.

A point worth mentioning is that Odom has a staunch legacy backing his journey – His father, Cliff Odom, was also an NFL player, drafted by the Browns in the 3rd round of the 1980 NFL draft. It’s fair to say, football truly runs in the Odom family.