Check out some info on Idonije’s latest venture!
Israel Idonije was an undrafted free agent by Cleveland in 2003, who eventually found his way to the Chicago Bears, and once he cracked the Bears’ active roster in 2024, he went on to a long and successful career. He began as a core special teamer who worked his way into the defensive line rotation, and he left Chicago after nine years, 134 games, and 50 starts.
He was one of the more popular Bears of his era due to his hard work and versatility, and being a 6’6”, 275-pound gunner likely had something to do with it. He’s also kept himself busy around the city during and after his playing career with a number of charitable and business ventures, and he’s also expressed his creativity in the arts with his comic books and acting.
His latest acting role is in a comedy titled Oxy Morons that was filmed entirely in Chicago and is set for a private screening at Lincoln Square’s historic Davis Theater on June 10.
Here’s the press release.
CHICAGO – Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman turned actor Israel Idonije has landed his latest movie role in Oxy Morons, an upcoming crime comedy that takes on Big Pharma with a dose of dark humor.
The cast also includes Jeremy Sumpter (Friday Night Lights, Peter Pan), Laura Ashley Samuels (Modern Family), Jeremy Holm (House of Cards), John Pirruccello (Barry), and Rae Gray (A League of Their Own).
Filmed entirely in Chicago, Oxy Morons centers around Wayne, a disenchanted logistics worker who becomes ensnared in a drug-smuggling operation gone awry. Facing escalating debts and law enforcement scrutiny, Wayne and his equally inept friends hatch a half-baked plan to steal opioids from his pharmaceutical client. The money flows in. As do a series of chaotic and unforeseen consequences that include threats, addiction, and an overall moral decay (where there wasn’t much to begin with).
Idonije plays an imposing Big Pharma executive hellbent on preserving the company’s stock price as the chaos intensifies.
Oxy Morons is set for a private screening at Lincoln Square’s historic Davis Theater on Tuesday, June 10. It will also be available on major on-demand and digital platforms starting that same day.
And here’s a quick Idonije bio from the release.
Shortly after retiring from the NFL in 2014, Idonije made a seamless transition to life after football, and has enjoyed his acting experiences. He has appeared in several films and television series, including roles in Beyond the Likes with George Lopez and LaRoyce Hawkins, Beats, Empire, Chicago Fire, and 61st Street, among others. In addition to his acting endeavors, Idonije continues to make significant contributions to Chicago with various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic efforts. Last year, he opened two separate restaurants in the South Loop – Signature Bar + Restaurant and The Staley. Meanwhile, he remains active through his charitable foundation, Impact Fund, which focuses on youth development and community empowerment.