After an impressive rookie season, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is training hard for the 2026 NFL season. The league recently shared footage showcasing the 21-year-old’s rigorous drills.

In a clip posted on the NFL X account, Loveland caught passes without gloves to improve his grip. The Idaho native also displayed his quick footwork by changing directions on his routes. He combined the agility of a wide receiver with the strong blocking of a tight end.

This dedicated training follows a season in which Loveland led the Bears in receiving yards. He struggled early in the 2025 campaign, totaling only 116 yards in his first six games. However, he broke out in Week 9 with 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Loveland finished the year with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. His standout performance cemented his role as a key contributor for head coach Ben Johnson’s squad.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson confirms offseason training for Colston Loveland

Johnson recently confirmed that Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III have been spending a lot of time in the weight room throughout the NFL offseason.

Johnson’s statement regarding the duo’s constant presence at the facility caused a stir among the Chicago fanbase. Although fans praised the two young players, some criticized the absence of a key teammate.

“The rookie class that saved the Bears ,” commented one fan rallying behind the pair.

Other supporters kept their reactions brief, posting comments like “Good” and “Dedication.”

However, other supporters questioned the whereabouts of the team’s other star playmaker.

“And where is the supposed WR1, Rome Odunze?” one user asked.

Another fan took a sharper tone toward the wide receiver, posting, “Rome still asleep? Hit the jugs, buddy.”

One supporter even suggested that Burden may soon overtake Odunze as the team’s leading wideout: “Lulu bout to snatch that WR1 chain.”

Odunze suffered a stress fracture in his foot in October and missed five games last season. However, he still finished with 661 receiving yards, 44 receptions and six touchdowns in 12 appearances. He returned on January 10 for the Bears’ playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

With Odunze, Loveland and Burden at his disposal, Johnson can build a balanced, dynamic and dangerous offense for the 2026 season. These three young players have already helped the Bears finish 11–6 and win the NFC North last season.

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Colston Loveland has been making waves long before he joined the Chicago Bears in 2025.

Before being selected as the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland had a tremendous collegiate career with the Michigan Wolverines. He played three years for Michigan, helping lead the squad to a national championship in 2023.

Loveland played 39 games across three seasons, registering 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns on 117 catches. By the time he finished his junior year, the Gooding, Idaho native had firmly established himself as one of the top prospects heading into the draft.

Loveland carried over his momentum in the NFL. In his first season with the Bears, the 21-year-old finished with 713 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 58 catches.

Michigan Wolverines fans show love for Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland

Loveland’s alma mater was in action in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Sunday. The Wolverines took on the Tennessee Volunteers in the Elite Eight. The game was held at United Center in Chicago, and Loveland was not going to let the opportunity to cheer on the Wolverines pass.

Loveland’s decision to attend the Michigan-Tennessee game drew a lot of attention online.

 

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“Can’t believe he plays for THEE Chicago Bears ” a fan wrote.

“That’s my tight end right there,” said another.

“Get this man to Texas so he can cheer on the Michigan Women’s team too!” declared a user.

“Amazing seeing Loveland in Chicago! Wish he was supporting a better team tho ” another said.

“” wrote a supporter.

“The best,” reacted a fan.

With Loveland in attendance, the Wolverines dominated the Volunteers, en route to a convincing 95-62 victory. Forward Yaxel Landeborg led the charge for Michigan, going off for 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal, two blocks and three triples in 25 minutes of action.

Michigan will now face the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday in the Final Four.

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Colston Loveland had an impressive rookie season for the Chicago Bears. Loveland was the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 21-year-old tight end played in 16 games, starting 11.

Loveland struggled early in his NFL career, only recording two catches and gaining 12 yards in his first two games. Despite that, he found his footing in Week 9 when the Bears faced the Cincinnati Bengals. The Michigan alum scored his first NFL touchdown during that game. He also scored the game-winning touchdown as he caught a 58-yard pass to secure the win.

The Bears rookie finished the season with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns.

Colston Loveland cheers on his Chicago Bears teammate Kyle Monangai

Loveland helped the Bears win the NFC North title in his rookie year. Chicago finished with an 11-6 record, their best record since 2018. Unfortunately, the Bears failed to reach the Super Bowl in 2025.

After their Wild Card Round win over their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers, the Bears lost in the Divisional Round. They bowed down to the 2021 Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams.

Now that the NFL offseason is officially underway, teams are preparing to upgrade their roster for the upcoming season. As for the players, they are ramping up their workouts to help their squads next season.

Loveland’s Bears teammate Kyle Monangai, on the other hand, will be hosting a youth football camp this May.

The 23-year-old running back announced the Kyle Monangai Youth Football Camp via his official Instagram account. His camp will be held on May 30 at Centennial High School in Champaign, Illinois.

 

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Loveland commented on the personal news from his fellow 2025 NFL Draft class member, saying “FTK,” which means “For The Kids.”

This is big news, especially for the rookies, as they understand the importance of camps for young athletes. Despite only playing in Chicago for one year, Monangai is already giving back to the community.

Loveland is fully supportive of his teammates’ news. He kept his reaction short and sweet, but there’s no denying that there’s nothing but love from these two rising Bears stars.

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Colston Loveland is ramping up the preparation for his second season in the NFL. The 21-year-old tight end was selected with the 10th overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2025 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, Loveland had 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. 

Loveland was a key part of the Bears’ success last year as he built a solid partnership with Caleb Williams. Their QB-TE connection helped lead the Bears to their best season since 2018. Chicago finished with an 11-6 record, and they won the NFC North title for the first time in seven years.

Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland gets ready for his second NFL season

Despite his early-season struggles in his rookie year, Loveland found his footing with the Bears. He eventually broke out when he scored his first touchdown in their Week 9 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Since then, Loveland has become an important player for the Bears.

The 2026 NFL offseason took full swing this month with roster shifts at the start of free agency. Many teams are also preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft as they look to further improve their rosters.

As for the Bears, they have made significant moves in preparation for the 2026 season. Chicago signed key pieces such as Coby Bryant and Devin Bush. They also traded for center Garrett Bradbury and re-signed Case Keenum.

For the former Michigan Wolverine, he will look to step up his game and help the Bears win the Super Bowl. In a recent post, the official NFL Instagram account shared Loveland’s workout this offseason.

 

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The NFL shared the video with the caption “Colston Loveland putting that work in ”

This signals that the second-year tight end is preparing to help the Bears this upcoming season, and the league is taking notice. 

Chicago fans hope the team surpasses its successful 2025 season. Loveland and the Bears are putting in the work with the goal of living up to the expectations.

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Caleb Williams took his game to a whole different level in his second season with the Chicago Bears. At the same time, however, the 24-year-old would be the first to admit that he would not have had the success he achieved in 2025 had it not been for his teammates. One of the revelations for the Bears and their Williams-led offense last season was rookie tight end Colston Loveland.

Chicago selected Loveland 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, indicating how much potential they saw in the former Michigan Wolverines star. Loveland rewarded the Bears’ trust with an impressive rookie campaign. The 21-year-old finished the season with 713 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 58 catches.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland opens up on his relationship with Caleb Williams

Loveland recently had a guest appearance on “The Athletic Football Show.” After discussing a couple of his eye-opening plays throughout the season, the Bears tight end turned his attention to his quarterback. Loveland opened up about his on-field connection with Williams.

“It was definitely a long time coming because I wasn’t able to get with him in the summer,” Loveland admitted. “After practices, really starting Week 4, we hit every route we needed to hit. If we missed it in practice, we hit it. If we didn’t even get the rep in practice, we hit it. … So when it came to gametime, it was easy.”

Their newfound chemistry was evident, especially toward the latter part of the season. Loveland went off in his NFL playoffs debut for the Bears. The rookie caught eight passes from Williams for a season-high 137 yards. Thanks in large part to Loveland and Williams’ connection, the Bears took down their bitter rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in the Wild Card Round.

As Loveland admitted in his statement above, he did not get an opportunity to connect with Williams last summer. These two now have a full offseason together heading into 2026.

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Caleb Williams and Colston Loveland built quite a partnership last season for the Chicago Bears.

As the organization’s cornerstone quarterback, Williams had a big year for the Bears in his second season. The 24-year-old registered 330-of-568 completed passes for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 17 games. Williams also added 388 yards and three TDs on the ground on 77 carries.

Loveland, on the other hand, was a key addition to the Williams-led offense. Selected as the 10^th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the former Michigan Wolverines star quickly settled in under head coach Ben Johnson’s tutelage.

Loveland made 16 appearances for Chicago in his rookie year, logging 713 yards and six touchdowns on 58 catches.

Williams and Loveland figure to be the cornerstones of Chicago’s future. Big things are expected from these two in 2026, especially after they led the Bears to the NFC North title last season with an 11-6 record. Chicago also made it to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland reacts to Caleb Williams’ offseason activity

At this point in the offseason, however, Williams and Loveland have been taking some personal time away from the team. Williams recently took to social media to share a life update. The 24-year-old QB posted a collection of random photos, including some snaps from his recent offseason activity.

 

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Loveland was one of the Bears players who reacted to Williams’ post. The incoming second-year TE had just one word for his quarterback.

“Dubr,” Loveland commented.

Loveland added no context to his statement. However, the term “dub” is slang for “win,” and this appears to be the message Loveland is conveying here.

This is exactly what these two are expected to do with the Bears in 2026. Last season, they helped lead Chicago to its best regular-season record since 2018 with 11 wins. Williams and Loveland will look to carry that momentum into the upcoming season.

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The Chicago Bears have made difficult decisions this offseason, including trading wide receiver DJ Moore. The Bears sent Moore to the Buffalo Bills for a 2026 second-round pick. This decision has drawn a slew of reactions from both the fans and the players, including tight end Colston Loveland. 

While Moore was a vital part of the Bears’ offense, his 2025-26 performance was the lowest in his career. He did score six touchdowns, but only managed a career-low 50 receptions and 682 yards. One of the reasons the Bears parted ways with Moore is Luther Burden III.

To a certain extent, Moore’s trade was set in motion when the Bears drafted Burden III, who had a promising rookie season. “You look at what Luther did, again, that’s why you followed the draft board,” said general manager Ryan Poles. 

DJ Moore trade leaves Chicago Bears rookie TE Colston Loveland speechless

“I did not expect Luther Burden to be where he was. He showed up and showed some big-time flashes. Every time that dude touched the ball special things could happen,” Poles added.

Poles explained that “obviously [Loveland] is a special player as well. With that said, you have to look at different moves that are going to help you continue to build your football team, and that’s what we felt was best.”

Loveland, however, had no words to describe the unfortunate news stemming from the Bears’ decision to trade Moore. He replied to the video Moore posted on Instagram with a freezing face emoji. 

 

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Loveland forged a deep connection with Moore, who helped him settle into the NFL in his rookie year. Their chemistry was undeniable as together with quarterback Caleb Williams, they formed the Beas passing attack.

Moore, for his part, said, “It was good. It was fun. The atmosphere was amazing. … I look forward to getting back there with the Bills and going further.”

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A fake trade report claiming the Chicago Bears sent rookie tight end Colston Loveland to the Philadelphia Eagles caused a stir on Wednesday. The report alleged Loveland was traded for Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert and a 2026 second-round pick.

Loveland was the Bears’ 2025 first‑round pick at No. 10 overall. He struggled early, catching two passes for 12 yards in his first two games. The 21-year-old broke out in Week 9, scoring his first touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on a five-yard pass. He later caught a 58-yard game-winning touchdown, securing the Bears’ 47–42 victory.

Loveland eventually became a key contributor in Chicago’s offense. He ended the season with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. The Idaho native helped Chicago win its first NFC North title since 2018 and first playoff victory since 2011. 

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland trade report shocks Candace Parker

After his standout rookie season, Loveland earned the Bears’ Rookie of the Year award and established himself as a top NFL talent. Thus, the reported trade sparked disbelief from WNBA legend Candace Parker. The Chicago native is an outspoken supporter of the Bears.

The source of the trade news? Indiana Fever star Aliyah Boston. In the latest episode of their “Post Moves” podcast, Boston asked Parker her thoughts on the Bears trading their star tight end for Goedert. 

The former Chicago Sky forward couldn’t believe it and said, “It’s not true. When did that happen? Are you kidding? No, it didn’t. This is like a bad joke you guys are playing.”

The Fever center continued convincing Parker it was true, claiming it happened “seven minutes ago.” Still in denial, the WNBA legend went into research mode, googling the news on her phone.

Parker appeared in distress as she searched for the truth about the Bears potentially losing Loveland. After a few seconds, she realized it was a joke and that she was being pranked.

“You’re full of [expletive],” the basketball icon exclaimed, making both hosts laugh. “I googled him, and then it said, ‘Saddened by news.’ And I was like, ‘But he’s talking about DJ Moore.’ So I was like, ‘There’s no way we traded Colson Loveland on a freaking rookie deal.’

“Okay, let the games begin. That’s all I’ll say. Let the games begin.”

 

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It looks like the article Parker found when he searched for Loveland’s trade is “Colston Loveland saddened by Chicago Bears news.” The report discusses the Bears star’s reaction to the news of wide receiver DJ Moore being traded by Chicago.

Parker’s reaction made the prank even funnier. The joke resonated because she is deeply loyal to Chicago sports. Parker played two seasons with the Chicago Sky at the tail end of her career, helping the team secure its first franchise championship in 2021.

Boston’s comedic timing was also perfect, coming after a week of roster changes for the Bears. 

The team recently traded Moore to the Buffalo Bills, raising concerns among fans that more trades could follow. Thankfully, Loveland’s spot on the roster is secure. 

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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills this week, drawing emotional reactions from teammates. Tight end Colston Loveland was among those reacting to the departure of a close locker room teammate.

The 28-year-old wide receiver posted a farewell message on Instagram after learning the Bears had traded him to the Bills. In his post, Moore said he and his family were proud to call Chicago home and appreciated “all the love and support the last three years.”

He also thanked fans and team personnel, reflecting on the strong connections he made during three years in Chicago.

“To the fans, you all embraced me with open arms from my first day here… Hopefully I made you all proud with the way I performed,” he said. “To my Bears teammates, coaches and staff, I enjoyed going to work with you every day. I’ll miss seeing you all… You all made me grateful every day to be a Chicago Bear!! I appreciate you all.”

Moore concluded his farewell message with a line that resonated with Bears fans. He wrote: “& It’s Always F……,” referencing the team’s iconic rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.

Colston Loveland reacts emotionally to DJ Moore’s departure from Chicago Bears

Loveland, who developed a strong bond with Moore on and off the field, reacted emotionally to the veteran receiver’s post. The 23-year-old tight end commented with a crying-face emoji, a reflection of his sadness at Moore’s departure.

Several other Bears players also commented on Moore’s post. However, Loveland’s reaction drew extra attention. As of this writing, the comment has received more than 10,800 likes.

 

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Moore joined the Bears in 2023 as part of a trade with the Carolina Panthers and immediately became Chicago’s primary offensive weapon. He finished his first season with a career-high 96 receptions, 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns.

Following his 2023 breakout campaign, he recorded six touchdowns and a career-high 98 receptions. However, he totaled just 966 receiving yards in the 2024 season.

Moore’s production further declined in 2025, with career-low totals in receptions and yards. He had 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns as the Bears prioritized younger playmakers such as Loveland.

Drafted 10th overall last year, Loveland entered a crowded offensive room where Moore was the established veteran leader. Throughout the 2025 season, Moore served as a mentor to Loveland, helping the young Idaho native navigate the transition to the NFL.

While Moore’s own production dipped as the offense diversified, he was often seen on the sidelines and in practice guiding Loveland and fellow rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze. The bond between the veteran and the rookies propelled Chicago to an 11-6 record and its first NFC North title since 2018 in 2025.

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Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is making the most of his time in the Windy City. 

The 21-year-old quickly became a fan favorite after a stellar rookie campaign that cemented him as a key piece of Ben Johnson’s offense. The former Michigan Wolverines standout emerged as the Bears’ top pass-catcher, hauling in 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. He played a key role in the Bears’ 11-6 record and NFC North title. 

The Idaho native is now soaking in everything Chicago has to offer during the offseason. He’s clearly enjoying himself as he prepares for year two with one of the NFL’s most exciting young rosters.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland receives massive cheers at Chicago Bulls game

Loveland stepped out of his helmet and into the role of spectator on Tuesday. The tight end watched courtside in street clothes as the Chicago Bulls hosted the Charlotte Hornets at the United Center.

The home team fell short, dropping a 131-99 decision to the visiting Hornets. Matas Buzelis led the way for Chicago with a game-high 32 points, seven rebounds and two assists, but it was not enough to avoid the lopsided defeat.

Despite the result, the night had a bright spot. The Bulls acknowledged Loveland’s presence, and the arena responded with a warm reception.

The team also captured the moment on social media, and the comment section quickly filled with admiration for the 21-year-old after his latest offseason move.

 

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“Aww…that’s so cool the people love you kiddo,” one user wrote.

“Colston Loveland throwing trick play coming next season,” another chimed in.

“Colston!!! I’m a non-creep mom of two young kids who just admires your talent, and I’m so proud of all you accomplished this season!! 2026-2027 ain’t ready!,” a fan passionately wrote.

“I love this man,” commented another.

“That’s our guy!” a user said.

“Such a cutie,” a fan declared.

The Bears had high hopes for Loveland when they selected him 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Idaho native shattered those expectations in year one and became a beloved figure in Chicago in a remarkably short amount of time.

With the full backing of a city that has embraced him, the sky’s the limit for Loveland heading into his sophomore season.

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Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland has inspired a new generation of students with his accomplishments on and off the field.

The 21-year-old tight end hails from a small town in Idaho. He spent his childhood working on his family’s farm and pursuing his passion for football. Before reaching the NFL, he starred at Gooding High School and then at the University of Michigan.

At Gooding High, Colston became Idaho’s top football player and won the 2021 Gatorade Player of the Year award. He then became one of the nation’s top tight ends in Michigan, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023. As a versatile, elite playmaker, he helped the Michigan Wolverines win the national championship.

Loveland’s success continued when the Bears selected him 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Being the No. 10 pick was a milestone for him and for Idaho. No football player from the state had reached such a high draft position.

In his rookie season, Loveland helped Chicago win its first NFC North title since 2018 and first playoff victory since 2011. The Idaho native finished with 58 catches, 713 yards, and six touchdowns. His standout 2025 season earned him the Bears’ Rookie of the Year award and established him as a top NFL talent.

Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland receives letters from inspired third graders

Loveland’s journey from a small Idaho town to NFL success serves as a powerful example for young students dreaming big. 

Third graders at Gooding Elementary are among those inspired by his story. Recently, some of them sent letters to the Bears rookie who once walked the same school halls. It was part of a classroom project.

After learning to write friendly letters, these students chose to write to Loveland rather than to friends or family. Their effort paid off in an exciting way. Not only did the NFL player reply to their letters, but he also sent signed photos for each third-grade classroom.

In a social media post, the school said the excitement was “off the charts,” with students proudly displaying the autographed pictures.

 

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Praise quickly poured in for Loveland after his awesome gesture.

“We love seeing our students dream big, take initiative, and make real-world connections. Thank you, Colston, for inspiring the next generation of GES students!” the school wrote on Facebook, sparking enthusiastic reactions from users.

“That is so awesome!!” one commenter said.

“So cool!” a third person wrote.

“LOVE this!!!! He’s sooo awesome!!! ,” another user shared.

 Others praised Loveland for his efforts and continued involvement in his hometown.

 “Love the different ways Colston reaches out and helps his home town community,” one commenter wrote.

Another said on Instagram, “So impactful. Continue to inspire others @colstonloveland much love brother .” 

In June, Loveland returned to Gooding to host his first youth football camp and fundraiser. Around 250 kids attended, learning from the NFL star. Donations worth $2,400 benefited a local food pantry and Gooding High School athletics. The event was Loveland’s way of giving back to his community.

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The Chicago Bears enjoyed their most successful season in years under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. After going 5-12 in 2024, Johnson led a revitalized Bears team to an 11-6 record and an NFC North crown. They also knocked off their oldest and most hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers, in the NFL Playoffs.

Quarterback Caleb Williams deservedly and unsurprisingly received a great deal of attention and credit for the improved offense. Indeed, as the player at the NFL’s most important position, his play was vital to Chicago’s success.

But what should not be lost in reflection on the 2025 season was the amazing production and play of rookie tight end Colston Loveland.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland makes PFF’s top 101 NFL players list

Many fans were curious about Chicago’s decision to take Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, he very quickly emerged as the Bears’ most dangerous weapon in the passing game. He finished his rookie campaign with 58 receptions, 713 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.

For his season performance, he made his debut on PFF’s top 101 NFL players list at number 61:

“The first tight end off the board in the 2025 NFL draft, Loveland was immediately one of the NFL’s best at the position, earning an 86.2 PFF receiving grade — bettered by only the 49ers’ George Kittle. His 1.97 yards per route run average trailed only Kittle and the Bills‘ Dalton Kincaid.”

As one can see, Loveland was PFF’s number-two graded tight end in the NFL, trailing only San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle.

Notably, Loveland is ranked higher on PFF’s top 101 than other premier tight ends such as Brock Bowers (#73) and Kyle Pitts (#88).

More Chicago Bears news from ChiCity Sports

• Gov. JB Pritzker responds to Bears statement about Indiana stadium
• Bears give Ben Johnson a nice gift ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
• Bears make commitment to Indiana for stadium project

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Bears, and general manager Ryan Poles have built one of the NFL’s most exciting collections of young talent.

Beyond ascendent star Caleb Williams at quarterback, Poles and the Bears have mined the past two NFL Drafts to surround the former Heisman Trophy winner with impact players at the skill positions while deploying massive resources to overhaul the offensive line in front of him last offseason.

Now, after a stellar rookie campaign, one of Williams’ most explosive pass-catchers is garnering major national praise.

Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland was NFL’s highest-graded rookie

Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland made an immediate impact, finishing as the team’s leading receiver and developing an instant chemistry with Williams that only got stronger as the season went along.

According to Pro Football Focus, Loveland wasn’t just the focal point of Chicago’s passing game, but the highest-graded rookie in the league.

The highest-graded rookie in the 2025 season:

COLSTON LOVELAND pic.twitter.com/X7L2ZU9Hxz

— PFF (@PFF) February 12, 2026

PFF gave Loveland an 84 overall grade, after the former No. 10 overall pick in last spring’s NFL Draft caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns.

According to Pro Football Focus, Williams posted a stellar 123.1 passer rating when targeting Loveland, whose 9.5 yards Average Depth of Target was second among tight ends across the NFL.

Given the impact Sam LaPorta had on Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit, Loveland’s upside is off the charts, and his rookie season has the potential to be merely a launchpad rather than a ceiling for his impact on the Bears’ offense moving forward.

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The Chicago Bears claiming the NFC North crown and toppling the division rival Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card wasn’t just a major step forward, but a showcase of the homegrown talent assembled by general manager Ryan Poles.

Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams’ ascent into the upper echelon of players at his position across the league was a driving force, wide receiver Rome Odunze continues to emerge, but the Bears’ 2025 NFL Draft class became a catalyst not just to Chicago’s playoff run in 2025 but a source of major optimism about what the future holds in the Windy City.

Chicago Bears’ 2025 NFL Draft class ranked as league’s best

Over at NFL Media, Editor at Large Gennaro Filice ranked every draft class across the league, with the Bears’ topping the list with an “A” grade.

“From Week 10 through the end of the regular season,” Filice writes. “Chicago boasted the two most productive rookie pass catchers in the entire league: WR Luther Burden III topped the board in that span with 481 receiving yards, while TE Colston Loveland ranked just behind him with 479. And Loveland continued to ascend in the postseason with nearly 200 more yards in two games. Lastly, the Bears’ offensive line looked complete after Ozzy Trapilo took over the blind side in Week 12.”

Loveland finished the season as the Bears’ leading receiver, and a favorite target of Williams, Burden is an emerging star, and as Filice points out, Trapilo was an instant upgrade along the offensive line when given the opportunity.

If this group continues to ascend, and Poles has similar success accumulating young talent with team control in this spring’s draft class, the Bears are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC as a legitimate contender for the foreseeable future.

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Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland had an impressive campaign in his first NFL season. So much so, that it drew the attention of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce.

Loveland was picked 10th overall in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Bears. He is under contract for three more seasons, with an option for a potential fifth year.

The former Michigan Wolverines standout overcame a slow start to his NFL career. This included a hip injury in Week 3. He capped his NFL debut season with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. Loveland’s strong play helped lead the Bears to an 11-6 record en route to the NFL playoffs.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland catches Travis Kelce’s attention

Loevland’s successful rookie campaign was not lost on NFL stars such as Kansas City Chiefs’ TE Travis Kelce. The 11-time Pro Bowler previously mentioned Loveland in his “New Heights” podcast that he and his brother Jason Kelce host.

“We got a young man cooking over there in Chicago, man,” Travis Kelce said. “Colston Loveland came out hot in ‘Hard Knocks.’”

Not only did he get a mention by Kelce, but Loveland was also spotted at the Chiefs star’s party on Thursday night. Loveland got an invite to Kelce’s Tight End University Super Bowl party in the Bay Area.

Colston Loveland seen at Travis Kelce & George Kittle’s “Tight End University” party!! Awesome!!! pic.twitter.com/7eFe2qbWY4

— Lizzz_Win$ (@Lizzz_Wins) February 8, 2026

Tight End University (TEU) teamed up with Sports Illustrated for a pre-Super Bowl party in San Francisco, California. Kelce stole the show when he hopped behind the DJ booth to play a song from his future wife, Taylor Swift. Colston took part in the fun gathering.

TEU was founded by Kelce, San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle and NFL icon Greg Olsen. The annual program brings together the tight end community for an immersive three-day event. During the TEU, participants get to bond, collaborate and learn from their peers, the best of the best TEs in the NFL.

They also get to participate in several activities, including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more. Young TEs also get to rub elbows with several retired tight ends of the NFL, allowing them to learn from the best.

The post Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland gets invite from Travis Kelce appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland received an unexpected surprise amid the NFL offseason. The 21-year-old tight end grew up in a small town in Idaho. He spent much of his youth working on his family’s farm and playing football. While at Gooding High School, he became Idaho’s No. 1 football player and won the 2021-22 Gatorade Player of the Year.

His early experiences taught him discipline and a grounded approach to life. Loveland carried these lessons to Michigan, where he became a top tight end. In 2023, he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and helped the Michigan Wolverines win the national championship.

Loveland was selected 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Bears. In his rookie season, he recorded 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. This helped the Bears capture their first NFC North title since 2018 and their first playoff win since 2011.

Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 240 pounds, Loveland quickly became a key offensive weapon for the Bears. After an impressive 2025 season, he earned the Bears’ Rookie of the Year award and emerged as a top NFL talent.

Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland signed hoodie up for Grabs

Loveland recently received a big surprise — a peek at a hoodie personalized for him, which fans can win. The custom hoodie was created by Bay Area graphics designer and content creator Kate Weinberg, known online as @kweinbydesign. 

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Weinberg unveiled the hoodie as part of a Jersey Mike’s Subs collaboration. She said her design reflects Loveland’s Idaho roots and his NFL journey.

“For this design, I wanted to combine Colston’s roots growing up in a small town in Idaho and working on his grandpa’s farm with his rise in the NFL,” Weinberg noted. “This bandana pattern allowed me to integrate a lot of details, even including his high school and college numbers, as well as the Idaho state flower, the syringa, into the design to make this piece extra personal for him.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kate Weinberg (@kweinbydesign)

Loveland looked surprised when Weinberg showed him the hoodie. “For me? Wow,” he said. Weinberg told him, “It has a bunch of different little nods to your hometown (and) football. I did a lot of research.” Loveland replied, “You did… This is sweet. Thank you, you’re awesome.”

According to Weinberg, Loveland loved the hoodie and even asked if he could keep it for himself.

“I didn’t get it on camera, but he even asked if he got to keep it and made sure someone on his team had it when he left, which was just so amazing,” she revealed.

Weinberg added she could not have asked for a better reaction. Loveland signed the hoodie for the giveaway winner before he left.

To enter the giveaway, fans must follow Jersey Mike’s on Instagram and comment “JERSEY MIKES” on Weinberg’s post. The prize includes the signed hoodie and a $300 gift card. 

The campaign is now gaining attention online. Collaborations like this help brands, creators, and athletes connect with fans. More than just apparel, the hoodie reflects a growing trend of how athletes are celebrated beyond the field.

The post Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland gets big surprise amid NFL offseason appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland’s rookie season was one for the ages.

Loveland, chosen by the Bears with the No. 10 overall pick in last spring’s NFL Draft, finished as Chicago’s leading receiver with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns, becoming quarterback Caleb Williams’ favorite and most prolific target as the season went along.

It was the comparison to one of the most dominant tight ends in the sport today that sealed the deal with Ben Johnson.

Colston Loveland actually compared himself to Sam LaPorta to Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson

According to Loveland, during a conversation he had with Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson, he actually compared himself to Lions All-Pro tight end Sam LaPorta, whom Johnson essentially built an offense around in Detroit.

“There was one thing when I was on the board,” Loveland said, during an extended interview with CHGO. “And maybe Coach Johnson asked like ‘Who do you compare your game to.’ I said “I think I play a lot like Sam LaPorta.’ He was like ‘Yeah, I agree.'”

Hearing Johnson say “Yeah, I agree” must have been so validating to Loveland, given the outsized role LaPorta played in the Lions offense.

According to Loveland, it was that interaction that stood above the others with Chicago, leading up to last spring’s 2025 NFL Draft.

“I don’t I met with him at the Combine, but at the Pro Day, him, (Ryan) Poles, the whole staff they came. I had a formal meeting with him. It was a long meeting. It was a tough meeting. I was on the board. I walked out of that thinking I killed it too like, ‘Okay I did a good job.’ But I was like ‘They definitely have some interest. They brought everyone out to Pro Day.’ I wasn’t doing anything at the Pro Day. Just to interview.”

Loveland went from first-round pick to focal point of the offense in the span of one season, and there’s no telling how lofty his ceiling as is he goes through an entire offseason program in the Bears’ building and has another year of experience to build on in Johnson’s scheme and catching passes from Williams in 2026.

The post Ben Johnson’s 3-word message that convinced Colston Loveland he’d be a Bear appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland has been turning heads off the field, with fans buzzing about his new Charmin partnership ahead of Super Bowl 60.

Loveland’s rising profile off the field mirrors his on-field success. One of his most memorable breakout moments came in Week 9.  The 21-year-old tight end scored a 58-yard touchdown that gave the Bears the lead over the Cincinnati Bengals with only 17 seconds left on the clock. That clutch play helped push Loveland to a standout season: 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. 

Capping off an impressive 2025 season, Loveland has earned the Bears’ Rookie of the Year award. This established him as one of the NFL’s top new talents with a career poised for continued growth and bigger moments in the years ahead. 

Bears’ Colston Loveland promotes Charmin’s Forever Roll ahead of Super Bowl LX

 Charmin tapped Loveland to promote its “Forever Roll Starter Kit” as a Super Bowl party essential. 

In an Instagram reel posted on Monday, the rookie showcases the kit, which includes a 1,700-sheet, two-ply roll and a stainless-steel holder, and calls it “the biggest roll, for the biggest game.” 

“Hosting Super Bowl Sunday? There should only be one call on the play sheet = the @charmin Forever Roll. The BIGGEST roll, for the BIGGEST game. Your tight end will thank you for it.” 

 

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A post shared by Colston Loveland (@_colstonloveland_)

Fans and supporters quickly reacted to the post. 

 “,” Bears safety Jonathan Owens commented. 

 “I saw this today at Target. Genius idea and Colston is so hot ,” a fan wrote. 

 “Getting Colston to promote commercial-sized toilet paper post season is crazy work. Make that money though, Loveland. ,” another said. 

 A supporter posted: “I just want this toilet paper because you told me to buy it.” 

 “I’ll be your toilet paper, Colston Loveland,” said another. 

 “ Alright, let the best Super Bowl commercial ratings begin,” a reaction read.

At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Loveland earned praise from analysts for his athleticism, versatility and reliable hands. This makes him a difficult matchup for opposing defenders.

His partnership with Charmin marks one of his first major endorsements in the NFL, highlighting his influence off the field. From game-winning touchdowns to national ad campaigns, Loveland is quickly becoming a rising football star and a cultural figure.

With the Super Bowl 60 approaching, there’s a lot of attention on the Bears’ rookie — and his “Forever Roll” campaign.

The post Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland development before Super Bowl LX turns heads appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Despite the Chicago Bears coming one game short of reaching the NFC Conference Championship game after losing 20-17 in overtime in the Divisional Round to the Los Angeles Rams, the Bears can hold their heads high knowing they did better than expected.

More News: Chicago Bears Could Improve Defense With National Champion Linebacker

With great play from their second-year quarterback Caleb Williams (3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns) and having first-year head coach Ben Johnson as his mentor, the Bears have a solid foundation heading into next season. Another part of that foundation, and another standout from last season, was first-round pick (10th overall) tight end Colston Loveland, who surpassed expectations for this season.

Loveland did so well in his first season in the NFL, catching 713 yards and six touchdowns, that he was named the Bears’ Rookie of the Year, per Bears.com. The Bears’ seventh-round and rookie running back, Kyle Monangai, could have also been considered for the award after rushing for 783 yards and five touchdowns.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson loves what Colston Loveland brings to the team

A product of the University of Michigan, Loveland came into the draft with a shoulder injury, which didn’t sway Johnson or the Bears from taking the Idaho native, with Johnson loving Loveland’s work ethic.

“When we drafted him, he was still coming off the injury,” Johnson said to Bears.com. “He really missed the springtime, and in training camp you’re trying to be smart in terms of how you’re acclimating him not just to the offense, but physically making sure his shoulder is good to go. It did take a little bit of time before we built that trust with him. So, a little bit of a slower start early in the year, and then it’s just kind of picked up and it’s clicked for us. He’s one of the first ones in the building every single day. He is always studying his playbook while he’s eating breakfast. He is always the last one off the practice field, doing the JUGS machine. Model of consistency, which for a rookie speaks volumes. As a coaching staff I know we really believe in him, and he is really just scratching the surface of what he’s going to become.”

Loveland had two standout games from last season, with 1. Coming in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he caught a career-high (regular season) 118 yards and two touchdowns, and 2. In the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, receiving for 137 yards.

With a year under his belt and heading into his second season, Loveland has a chance to be better in his sophomore season. Continuing to grow a rapport with Williams, the Bears are likely the favorites to repeat as champions of the NFC North next season.

The post Chicago Bears first-round draft pick from 2025 wins ROTY appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland showed his appreciation for teammate, veteran guard Joe Thuney. The Bears star center is up for the inaugural Protector of the Year Award. This award is an acknowledgment by the NFL for the hard work and significant contributions that offensive linemen give to their respective teams.  

The former Michigan Wolverines took to social media to share a Bears social media post announcing Thuney as one of the finalists for the inaugural honor. This is a historic achievement for Thuney, who has been named as one of the finalists for the first-ever Protector of the Year Award. 

Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland flexes teammate Joe Thuney’s historic achievement

Thuney was drafted 78th overall by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He was in the starting lineup of the Bears’ 17 regular-season games. The four-time Pro Bowler did not allow a single sack. He also managed to stop all QB hits except one, gave up 15 total pressures and committed only two penalties. 

Thuney is one of the six candidates on the finalist list. He joins Denver Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles, Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Broncos offensive guard Quinn Meinerz and Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell as inaugural nominees for the prestigious award.

This season is Thuney’s first with the Bears. He played for the Patriots for five years and for the Kansas City Chiefs for four years. 

https://x.com/PaoloSongcoNBA/status/2017091007633072628x.com

Loveland, for his part, had a memorable rookie season with the Bears after overcoming a sluggish start that included a hip injury in Week 3. That forced him to miss the first NFL game of his career in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Drafted 10th overall in the 1st round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland ended his first NFL season with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. He will be staying with the Bears for another three seasons and has an option for a potential fifth year. 

The Bears finished with an 11-6 record in the regular season. They defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the wild card round. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Rams 20-17 in the Divisional Round. 

The post NFL News: Colston Loveland shares historic Chicago Bears news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears were one of the league’s biggest surprises in the 2025 NFL season. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, they went from last to first place in the NFC North. Additionally, the Bears finished the season 11-6 and earned the second seed in the NFC.

And while they came up short in the Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams, they won their first playoff game against the Green Bay Packers since 1941.

In these games, rookie tight end Colston Loveland gave fans a glimpse of the brilliance that is to come from him.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland made NFL history

When the Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, it was a move that many, even among Chicago’s own fanbase, criticized. But Loveland has certainly been all that the Bears he envisioned he could be as a rookie, and his 2025 rookie campaign has set the stage for what is sure to be a bright career.

This past year, Loveland had 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. He led the Bears in both receptions and receiving yards and was tied with two other players for the team lead in touchdown receptions.

And in the NFL Playoffs, he set the NFL record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end. He had eight receptions for 137 yards against the Packers in the Wild Card round in what was a dominating performance. A week later, Loveland recorded four receptions for 56 yards against the Rams.

His 193 receiving yards are the most in league history in the playoffs by a rookie tight end. Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions previously held the record with 176.

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For More Chicago Sports

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The post Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland made NFL history in 2 postseason games appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland made all sorts of waves in his rookie year. Selected as the 10th overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland showed why Chicago was right to use its first-round pick on him. In 16 games played during the regular season (11 starts), Loveland produced 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns.

Loveland’s successful rookie campaign turned heads across the league. Most recently, the former Michigan Wolverines standout drew the attention of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. The four-time All-Pro tight end shared his opinion of Loveland in a recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast.

Travis Kelce Sends Message on Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland

The Kelce brothers brought in NFL icon Greg Olsen as their special guest for Wednesday’s show. At one point, Kelce and Olsen discussed Tight End University (TEU), which is an annual gathering of some of the top tight ends in the NFL. Kelce and Olsen co-founded TEU in 2021 alongside San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle.

It was at this point in their conversation that Kelce brought Loveland up, who has emerged as one of the top young tight ends in the game.

“We got a young man cooking over there in Chicago, man,” Kelce said. “Colston Loveland came out hot in ‘Hard Knocks.'”

Kelce and Olsen then went on to discuss Loveland’s viral karaoke performance of the song “Let Me Love You” during training camp. It’s safe to say that the Bears rookie left quite an impression on them.

Chicago Bear rookie tight-end Colston Loveland is having quite the season. It should come as no surprise since he stole the show with his pre-season performance of Mario’s hit “Let Me Love You” at training camp. pic.twitter.com/VyJFSJLKCM

— Backstage (@Backstagebs1) January 13, 2026

Loveland nailed his performance in front of his entire team. His performances on the field all season long were equally impressive.

The post Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland draws Travis Kelce’s attention appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Caleb Williams and Colston Loveland both did their part for the Chicago Bears in Sunday’s season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Williams logged 23-of-42 completed passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, adding 40 yards on the ground. Loveland, on the other hand, had four catches for a team-high 56 receiving yards before his early exit.

Loveland left the game in the fourth quarter due to a head injury and was unable to return. The team later announced that Loveland suffered a concussion after hitting his head on the ground during a catch.

Despite Williams, Loveland and the rest of the Bears’ valiant effort, Chicago still suffered a heartbreaking defeat in overtime, 20-17. The Rams are now moving on to the conference championship game to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland’s two-word message for Caleb Williams

Williams took to social media on Tuesday to send his parting message for the 2025 season. The Bears quarterback shared a powerful quote following the team’s season-ending loss.

“Through ups n downs, from holidays n disasters, to love n hate. Sometimes you fall, sometimes you get knocked down. First, ‘GOOD’! Second, get up. Third, prepare. Lastly, go again on the road to glory. -ICE,” Williams posted.

 

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A post shared by CALEB WILLIAMS (@ayeeecaleb)

Loveland caught wind of his quarterback’s post. The former Michigan Wolverines star responded with a strong two-word statement for Williams.

“The 1,” Loveland declared.

Loveland emerged as one of Williams’ top targets this season. The Bears’ first-round TE caught 58 passes out of 82 targets for a 70.7% receiving success rate. This resulted in 713 receiving yards and six touchdowns for Loveland in his first NFL season.

More of the same will be expected from this duo in the 2026 season and beyond.

The post Colston Loveland sends strong message to Caleb Williams after Chicago Bears Loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The season is officially over for Colstone Loveland and the Chicago Bears. Their campaign ended on Sunday with a 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.

Loveland turned in a strong performance in the game, registering four catches for a team-high 56 yards. It still wasn’t enough, though. The Bears came up short in the extra period, as L.A. secured the win via a 42-yard field goal with 3:19 left.

The Rams are now headed to the conference championship game, where they will face Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks. It’s the end of the line, however, for the Bears and their memorable campaign.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland suffers unfortunate injury against Rams

Loveland was unable to finish Sunday’s game against L.A. The first-round rookie exited late in the fourth quarter due to a head injury. He did not return. Bears head coach Ben Johnson announced after the game that Loveland had been diagnosed with a concussion. The 21-year-old will now be placed under the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Loveland took to social media on Monday to send a one-word message.

“CHICAGO ” posted the former Michigan Wolverines star.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Colston Loveland (@_colstonloveland_)

Loveland kept his message short and sweet, but he sent his love to Chicago after the team’s season-ending defeat.

In his latest Instagram post, Loveland shared some of his favorite photos from his memorable rookie year. The Bears put a lot of stock in the national championship-winning TE, selecting him 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Loveland responded with 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (11 starts).

The Bears expect Loveland to play a significant role in 2026. If his rookie campaign is an indication of what’s to come from the young TE, then the future is certainly bright for Chicago.

The post Chicago Bears rookie Colston Loveland sends one-word message after unfortunate news appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Rookie tight end Colston Loveland and his development were among the most pleasant developments in the Chicago Bears‘ season that culminated with a run to the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

Loveland, chosen by the Bears with the No. 9 overall selection in last spring’s NFL Draft, quickly and significantly bolstered his rapport with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who in turn seemed to trust the former Michigan standout more as the season wore on, frequently targeting him in the biggest moments of Chicago’s biggest games.

As a rookie, Loveland caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns, while averaging a paltry 12.3 yards per reception and finishing ninth in receiving among tight ends.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland makes NFL Playoff history

Loveland, though, saved his best football for last.

After pulling down 12 catches for 193 yards, Loveland set the record for the most postseason receiving yards by a rookie tight end, and he did it in two games.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Loveland surpassed Detroit Lions All-Pro Sam LaPorta, to set the record. LaPorta’s offensive coordinator with the Lions that season, of course, was Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

Perhaps the clearest indicator of how dominant Loveland was in the Bears’ to postseason games, and how valuable he is to the future of Chicago’s offense, not to mention Williams’ development, he’s currently the league’s leading receiver this postseason.

If this season is Loveland’s floor, that’s an enticing and optimistic foundation to build on, for Johnson and the Bears’ offense.

The post Colston Loveland makes NFL history in Chicago Bears’ playoff loss appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are still pushing forward in the playoffs with the hopes of winning the team’s second-ever Super Bowl. They have some incredible talents on their roster, but there has been one significant player who has been showcasing his talents all year long. Let’s take a closer look at which player has been labeled as an X-factor for Chicago and what he has done to do just that thus far.

PFF believes the Chicago Bears’ tight end is their X-factor in the playoffs

Pro Football Focus’s Max Chadwick wrote an article discussing each team’s remaining rookie X-factor in the postseason, and he named tight end Colston Loveland for the Bears. Below is the section he wrote about how he has done for Chicago:

“Many were surprised when the Bears selected Loveland over Tyler Warren as the first tight end off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he has more than proven worthy of that No. 10 overall pick. In fact, Loveland’s 84.6 PFF grade is second only to George Kittle among all tight ends in the league. He’s only dropped one of his 67 catchable targets this season and was the best player on the field in Chicago’s wild-card win over the Packers, posting new career highs in receiving yards (137) and PFF grade (90.5).”

Even without finding the end zone in the NFC Wild Card last weekend, Loveland continued to be the best player on the field with his game-leading receiving yards and tied for the most catches in the game. If the opposing defense is focused on Loveland, that will allow the wide receivers to get open as well and make quarterback Caleb Williams’ life a lot easier. It will be intriguing to see how the Rams defend Loveland and how the Bears gameplan to continue getting him involved to make special plays in big situations.

The post Chicago Bears rookie named as X-factor for the team’s playoff run appeared first on ChiCitySports.

It may have been a shocking decision to some when the Chicago Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Many believed Penn State’s Tyler Warren was the obvious pick there for Chicago.

But for Ben Johnson and the Bears, they had a plan and they stuck to it.

Now, it’s paying dividends for the Bears as Loveland has not only been one of the best rookie tight ends but one of the best at his position in the NFL. Saturday’s performance against the Green Bay Packers proved that on the biggest stage as well.

Colston Loveland makes history

Chicago scored their first playoff win since 2010 as they beat the Packers on Saturday night in the wild card round at Soldier Field, advancing to the divisional round. A big reason why was the play of Loveland who was the go-to target for Caleb Williams.

Loveland caught 8 of his 15 targets for 137 yards. While he didn’t have a touchdown, he did get a key two-point conversion and was a reliable target for Williams throughout the day. He made some history as well.

The former Michigan standout became the first rookie tight end to have 8+ receptions and 100+ yards in a playoff game in NFL history. Whew. 

He joined some rare company as well. Per Kevin Fishbain, Loveland’s 137 yards rank tied for 10th all-time for a tight end in a playoff game. They were the second-most for a rookie tight end behind Keith Jackson. 

Colston Loveland's 137 yards rank tied for 10th all-time for a tight end in a playoff game, via @Stathead. Second-most for a rookie TE behind Keith Jackson pic.twitter.com/8i4rOPRoPD

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 11, 2026

It gets even better. Loveland continues to be put in elite company as there are two tight ends in NFL history with 10+ targets and 130+ yards in a playoff game at the age of 22 or younger: Rob Gronkowski. Colston Loveland.

Earning the trust of Caleb Williams

The Bears certainly hit a home run early on with Loveland and it’s clear his head coach sees that too.

“I know Caleb has an immense amount of trust in him,” Ben Johnson said. “He’s a guy that he’s one of the first ones in the building every single day. He is always studying his playbook while he’s eating breakfast. He is always the last one off the prosecute field, doing the jugs machine. Model of consistency, which for a rookie speaks volumes. As a coaching staff I know we really believe in him and he has is really just scratching the surface of what he’s going to become.”

It’s early in his career but the Loveland pick looks better and better as each week goes on in Chicago.

The post Colston Loveland makes history in Chicago Bears win appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson hates losing.

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In Week 18, Johnson was willing to risk injury to avoid a two-game losing streak heading into the postseason, choosing to play his starters against the Detroit Lions after suffering a heartbreaking 42-38 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17.

Frankly, his players didn’t respond well to Johnson’s message. The team came out flat, trailing the Lions 13-0 at halftime before losing 19-16 at Soldier Field.

Because the Philadelphia Eagles rested their starters and lost the Washington Commanders on Sunday, Chicago was still able to clinch the NFC’s No. 2 seed.

Despite this being his first season, Johnson has no intentions of being happy with winning the NFC North and participating in the playoffs. He isn’t thinking about maybe beating a shorthanded Green Bay Packers squad on Saturday and exiting against tougher competition in the divisional round.

Chicago Bears HC Ben Johnson had a warning for players

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Johnson is thinking about February’s Super Bowl and a chance to win another important game at Levi’s Stadium.

Per Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports, rookie tight end Colston Loveland told reporters Johnson warned players not to come to practice if they had any offseason distractions on their minds. He wants Chicago focused on winning in the playoffs.

“After the (Lions) game, he said, if you’re not prepared to play the next five weeks or if you’re thinking about anything else – thinking about booking a flight, vacations or anything – don’t come in,” Loveland said. “He made it very clear about what’s at stake and what this team is looking for.”

Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland on Ben Johnson's messaging for the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/6TAMko8X80

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) January 7, 2026

The Bears have not won a playoff game since the 2010 season. Their last home playoff game ended in a double-doink loss to the Eagles. Chicago last played in a postseason game in 2020 when it lost to the New Orleans Saints.

Johnson’s ready to change the narrative in Year 1.

For More Chicago Sports:

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When the Chicago Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland out of Michigan with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, many analysts felt that the team had made a major mistake.

On the board at the time was Penn State standout tight end Tyler Warren. Most believed that he was the better prospect.

Despite the criticism that the Bears received at the time, Loveland has proved them right. He has been a perfect fit alongside of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and his future looks incredibly bright in Chicago.

In the season finale at home against the Detroit Lions, the Bears ended up losing by a final score of 19-16 on a field goal as time expired. Even though the team lost, Chicago was helped out by the Washington Commanders who beat the Philadelphia Eagles. Now, the Bears will gear up for a Wild Card matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Loveland put on a strong performance. He caught 10 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

Tom Brady, who was calling the game for Fox, spoke out and didn’t hold back about the rookie tight end. He believes that Loveland is comparable to his longtime tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“He’s like a mini Gronk,” Brady said.

Having an NFL legend like Brady speak out with such high praise shows just how talented Loveland is and what he’s capable of becoming in the future.

With the regular season coming to an end, Loveland finishes his rookie campaign with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers showcased exactly why the Bears had such believe in the young tight end.

Hopefully, Loveland is able to be a big part of a long postseason run for Chicago. Next week, the journey will begin in the playoffs against the arch-rival Packers.

The post Tom Brady doesn’t hold back about Bears TE Colston Loveland appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are one of the top-performing teams in the entire sport. With the new regime stepping in and drafting well, they have been able to get going to a new level. With the team having a young core on the offensive side of the field, there are players who are stepping up immediately. Let’s take a closer look at which player has really clicked in their first season in the National Football League.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland ranks second among rookies this season

Pro Football Focus NFL Contributor Lauren Gray posted an article discussing the top rookies this season. She would list Chicago tight end Colston Loveland as the second-ranked rookie player in the sport after Week 17 with an 80.7 grade. This would leapfrog Loveland over New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo’s 80.5 grade. Below is what she wrote regarding Loveland:

“Loveland vaults up to No. 2 after recording two catches of 30-plus yards in the Bears’ shootout loss to the 49ers on Sunday Night Football. He broke away from Ji’Ayir Brown and Tatum Bethune for a 36-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to bring the Bears within one point… Loveland finished the night with six catches for 94 yards and a 138.2 passer rating when targeted. Loveland garnered the fifth-best PFF run-blocking grade for the week (75.2), powered by a 50% positively graded play rate (tied for third best) and a 75.5 zone PFF run-blocking grade across 21 snaps.

“The 10th overall pick ranks in the top 10 among tight ends in PFF receiving grade (81.4) and receiving yards this season (622). Although he does not place highly at the position in yards after the catch (4.9 per reception), he is a top-15 weapon in yards after contact (112) and ranks tied for eighth in catches of 20-plus yards (nine.) Loveland also ranks 15th among tight ends in PFF run-blocking grade (68.7).”

The Bears have seen the offense take that step with the rookie tight end as he continues to grow a connection with quarterback Caleb Williams. He has been a significant part of the offense for the team, making him invaluable in both the passing and blocking game. It will be intriguing to see how he continues to develop as Chicago gets ready for a postseason run.

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The Chicago Bears are currently the best team in the NFC right now, with their biggest game of the 2025 season coming up on Sunday in Green Bay against the Packers. Chicago has been success throughout the 2025 season due to a defense that leads the NFL in forcing turnovers, and a top five rushing offense. First-year head coach Ben Johnson, who was hired to install an explosive offensive scheme, had helped lead his team to success through his ability to adapt in-game and determine what the best course of action to help secure wins.

Ben Johnson’s team has won due to his ability to adjust on the fly

When the Bears’ front office hired Ben Johnson at the beginning of the year, the highly sought after offensive coordinator that had acclaimed success in Detroit as a play-caller was brought in to help develop second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and create a successful offense. Through 12 games of the 2025 season, Johnson’s offense is productive when it has come to generating yards, yet has struggled at times to score touchdowns, despite having multiple redzone situations. Additionally, Chicago’s passing offense has been inconsistent, as Williams has struggled with accuracy while pass-catchers have had issues with drops.

Despite the inconsistencies on offense, Johnson has done a tremendous job navigating around those issues, especially during the Bears’ current five-game winning-streak. There have several instances through the winning-streak where Ben Johnson has changed his offensive gameplan and strategy mid-contest to adapt to the flow of what was transpiring to help secure a win. In the victories over Giants, Vikings, and Eagles, the Bears offense and their play-scheming during the course of the contests.

In the game against the New York Giants, Ben Johnson’s gameplan called for higher rate of deep passing-plays, yet several of the Bears’ wide receivers struggled with dropped passes, totaling six during the game. Although Chicago trailed 20-10 midway through the fourth quarter, Johnson adjusted his gameplan to target the most reliable pass-catchers in the moment, as rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III were targeted to help move the ball. Additionally, Williams’ rushing ability was utilized more than his passing capabilities, as the second-year signal-caller scored the game-winning touchdown on a 17-yard quarterback rollout.

Against the Vikings a week later, Johnson’s scheme at the beginning of the contest involved another round of deep passing-plays, yet this time it was William’s accuracy that didn’t allow for the passes to be completed. Although Ben Johnson tried to stick with the passing offense by shifting to more mid-range routes over the middle, drops by DJ Moore and Burden created more stalling issues. With the Bears leading late into the game, the first-year head coach adapted a ball-control and time-consumtion offense, leaning heavily on the rushing offense. Chicago’s head coach even chose to stick with the running game to setup kicker Cairo Santos’ game-winning kick.

On Friday night in Philadelpha, Ben Johnson was able to realize that the passing offense could work off the immense success of the rushing attack, as both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai each rushed for over 100 yards. Although the passing game struggled again, as there were drops and missed passes due to wide receivers having issue with the field, Johnson called passing-plays off the run game. The key 28-yard touchdown from Williams to tight end Cole Kmet to seal the win came on a play-action fake that the Eagles defense bit on due to the success of the rushing attack.

Ben Johnson must choose the best course of action for Chicago’s offense with upcoming games

With five games remaining in the season, including three divisional contests against two divisional foes who are vying to make the playoffs also, it will be up to Ben Johnson to see how he wants to run his offense. Due to the rushing success of Swift and Monangai, it wouldn’t be surprising if Johnson relies heavily on a run-first offensive scheme, especially if the team is playing in inclement weather in December. Given the play-caller’s fondness for running the ball paired with his immense success with it in Detroit, it wouldn’t be a shock if Chicago wins games relying on their rushing offense and their defense alone.

The other strategy that could be deployed by Ben Johnson over the team’s final five games of 2025 is to lean on the rushing offense to help jumpstart the passing offense through a heavy dose of play-action play-designs. Upcoming opposing defenses could look to stop Chicago’s rushing offense with eight men in the box, which could also Williams to connect on open targets downfield with linebackers and secondary members being frozen when trying to stop a run. Johnson pass play success in Detroit was due in part to relying heavily on play-action plays, especially ones coming off of formations that would lead opposing defense to believe a run play was coming.

It will also be interesting to see how Johnson handles the pressure of his team not just being on the verge of making the playoffs but fight to help secure an invaluable first-round bye and home-field advantage for the playoffs. Chicago’s head coach may just want to stick with what is working the best for his offense to help give the Bears’ enough of chance to win enough games to secure the bye and home-field advantage. Luckily for Ben Johnson, due to his prior experience and success with Detroit, he has playoff experience that will come in handy for the Bears at the beginning of January.

The Bears being successful with the way that they have won games in 2025 was not expected at all by fans and NFL analysts. Ben Johnson has done a tremendous job managing and navigating issues that has plagued his offense throughout the season and has put his offensive unit in a position to overcome inconsistencies. Johnson now must keep the trend of being able to successful adapt during the game over Chicago’s last five contests to help ensure the best possible playoff position for his team.

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The Chicago Bears selected Colston Loveland in the first round of last spring’s NFL Draft in hopes he would develop into the league’s next elite tight end, and the former Michigan standout is well on his way.

Loveland, picked No. 10 overall by the Bears, is quickly developing a strong rapport with Caleb Williams, and, in relative lockstep with fellow first-round tight end Tyler Warren as one of the most dangerous players at the position after the catch in the sport.

Through his first nine games, Loveland has caught 24 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 13.7 yards per catch, with a two-touchdown outburst on his ledger from the Bears’ thrilling overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

However, Loveland isn’t the only productive tight end on the Bears’ roster.

Ben Johnson praises Chicago Bears’ Cole Kmet

Even with Loveland’s arrival and emergence as one of Williams’ favorite targets, veteran tight end Cole Kmet is still carving out a niche for himself in the Bears’ offense and within head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme.

“I thought Cole played one of his best games he has so far this year,” Johnson recently told reporters. “I get he caught a couple more balls, but I’m not even talking about that. He’s great in the running game and then pass pro we put him in some tough matchups there on some of their defensive end or outside linebacker types, and I thought he did an outstanding job throughout that. When he was a ball carrier, you felt his presence out there. He was lowering his shoulder, he was stiff-arming. He brought our sideline to life a couple of times.”

 

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Kmet’s prowess as a run-blocker is always going to keep him on the field, but Sunday afternoon’s season-high five catches for 45 yards, including a 14-yard catch and run could be a turning point in his season as a pass-catcher in Williams’ supporting cast.

So far this season, Kmet has caught 16 passes for 192 yards, and one touchdown, scored in a Week 3 blowout victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Particularly if the Bears continue deploying two-tight end sets, and he continues to build his chemistry with Williams, Kmet could remain a vital piece of the puzzle on offense for Chicago down the stretch, and maybe beyond.

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The Chicago Bears won another thrilling last-minute contest on Sunday, as they score 14 points in the final four minutes of the game to beat the New York Giants by a score of 24-20. Chicago’s offense was led by quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for a touchdown and ran for the game-winning score with less than two minutes left. The victory marks the fourth time this year, and the fifth time in Williams’ last ten games he has led the Bears’ offense on a game-winning drive, confirming that the second-year star has become a very unique type of signal-caller.

Caleb Williams has become a win because of quarterback in the NFL

Since the final week of the 2024 season, five of Chicago’s seven wins have come due in part to Caleb Williams engineering a game-winning touchdown or field goal drive, scoring on his offense’s final possession in the games. Williams has led the Bears’ offense to scoring drives against the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals, and now the New York Giants. Even more impressive about leading the comeback wins, is that Sunday’s comeback victory over the giants was the first time Chicago’s second-year signal-caller had recorded a come-from-behind win at home via offensive scores.

In his short year and a half career, Caleb Williams has begun to establish that he is the type of quarterback that a team wins because and that if a contest is close at the end, a team has high probability to pull out a victory. Very few NFL teams are fortunate to have a starting quarterback who allows his team to have a chance to win a game if it is within a certain number of points. The come from behind win over the Giants also marked the first time Williams led the Bears on a comeback from two score in the fourth quarter.

Throughout the 2025 season, Williams has led a different type of game-winning drive in the four games that Chicago has won in the final minute of the game. Against the Raiders in Week 4, the Bears’ quarterback dissected the opposing offense with several mid-level throws mixed with a few rushing plays, culminating with a D’Andre Swift three-yard touchdown run. One week later, Williams set up kicker Jake Moody’s game-winning field goal as time expired, by relying heavily on Chicago’s rushing offense, and wisely not audibling to a pass play or changing the specific run design pre-snap.

The last two weeks have seen Williams respond to immense adversity created and brought on by the Bears’ themselves, as the defense struggled in the team’s last two games. Against the Bengals, Chicago’s quarterback responded with a 58-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Colston Loveland with less than 30 seconds left in the game, right after their defense had blown a 14-point lead within one minute’s time.  Against the Giants, outside of Caleb Williams, the Bears’ passing offense struggled as the team’s pass-catchers recorded six dropped passes, resulting in the ten points through most of the game.

With the struggles of the pass-catchers, Williams leading the offense to back-to-back touchdown drives was even more impressive given the poor weather conditions. The cold, windy, and wet conditions played a role in the dropped passes, yet Caleb Williams managed to utilize his mobility to free up the most sure-handed receivers like Luther Burden or deciding to gain yards by scrambling. On the two offensive scoring drive, Chicago’s quarterback scrambled for a 29-yard gain and a 17-yard touchdown run to win the game, as he realized that his mobility would be the most reliable way to score, especially with the conditions that had hampered the offense earlier.

Caleb Williams’ clutch aura could have a huge mental benefit moving forward

Caleb Williams’ ability to demonstrate grace and collectiveness in adverse situations, especially when Chicago is in need of a game-winning drive, changes a multitude of aspects moving forward. Williams being reliable and capable of leading a game-winning drive regardless of the situation, provides an immense confidence boost to not just the offense, but to the defense too. A key example is Sunday’s contest against the Giants, as right after the offense scored to make the game 20-17, the Bears’ defense forced a three-and-out against New York’s offense, which included two sacks.

If the Bears’ team as a whole is provided confidence and hope that their second-year quarterback is always able to give them a chance to win a game, especially if it is close at the end, the confidence boost for everyone is significantly valuable. Williams being able to be that reliable takes pressure off of his fellow pass-catchers ensuring them that they could be difference makers without the focus solely being on them. Additionally, the defense will be motivated to play harder and more focused, as they know their effort won’t go unappreciated by Caleb Williams.

On the flipside, Caleb Williams ability to execute game-winning drives with confidence and ease could have a massive negative effect on opposing teams. Williams being able to score on Chicago’s offensive possession might cause opposing offenses to make mistakes feeling the need to throw the ball and score points instead of looking control the ball and clock by running the ball. Furthermore, opposing defenses could play scared with individual defenders making mental mistakes due to the sheer presence of the Bears’ quarterback and the potential of the signal-caller to take advantage of any mistakes made by the defense.

Williams’ comeback capabilities are what the Bears’ franchise and fanbase has yearned for decades, as they finally have a quarterback that can win in any situation, but more importantly always gives the team a chance to win. On multiple occasions in just his second season in the NFL, Caleb Williams has led multiple game-winning drives in a variety of different ways. If Chicago’s signal-caller keeps up this level of play, especially in crucial moments at the end of games, there will be a growing call for Most Valuable Player considerations.

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The Chicago Bears won a memorable shootout on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals by a score of 47-42, which featured 8 lead changes, with two coming with less than a minute left to go in the contest. Chicago’s offense won the day behind the play of quarterback Caleb Williams, rookie running back Kyle Monangai, and rookie tight end Colston Loveland, as all three played massive and critical roles in the victory. Although the Bears’ offensive players secured the victory, embattled general manager Ryan Poles deserves immense praise for the victory, as several of the assets he drafted are becoming game-altering talents.

Ryan Poles’ draft selections are starting to have impactful success validating the general manager

When the Bears hired Ryan Poles in January of 2022, one of the attractive aspects to his hire was the young executive’s ability to scout collegiate talent during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. The belief for Chicago was that Poles would overhaul the team’s roster and build it back up through the NFL Draft. Unfortunately, despite landing the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft and then parlaying the selection into a massive trade with the Carolina Panthers, the Bears’ general manager has had a roller coaster ride when selection players via the draft.

Over the past four NFL Drafts, there has been a lot of criticism pointed towards Ryan Poles, as none of his selections drafted have been named to a Pro Bowl, while he has already seen several of his mid round selections released or cut during his tenure. Outside of utilizing the tenth overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft on offensive tackle Darnell Wright, Poles’ ability to scout and draft successful along offensive line and defensive line has been criticized significantly. Furthermore, there have been scouting and roster analysis concerns for the Bears’ general manager when it comes to identifying quality talent at the offensive skill position, especially given the success he had in Kansas City finding elite-level talents like Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill.

On Sunday, several of Poles’ most significant recent draft selections played a vital role in the team’s victory over the Bengals, as several offensive and defensive players scouted by the general manager excelled. Second-year defensive end Austin Booker who Poles traded back into the 2024 NFL Draft to select in the fifth round, had a crucial sack and fumble recovery that eventually led to a Bears’ touchdown. Cornerback Nashon Wright, who was added during free agency as a depth piece by Chicago’s general manager this past offseason, recorded an interception to seal the victory while picking up his third interception of the season.

Although Poles’ defensive players made impactful games to help secure the win, it was his drafted offensive players that played a majority role. Since the 2025 NFL Draft earlier this year, Bears’ fans have immensely questioned whether Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson made the correct decision selecting tight end Colston Loveland over fellow tight end Tyler Warren with the tenth overall selection. Although Warren has been highly more productive, Loveland finally had a massive breakout game, catching six passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, including the 58-yard game-winning touchdown with less than 30 seconds left.

Another aspect on offense where Ryan Poles was highly criticized this offseason was his inability to address a glaring need for talent at the running back position. Despite needing to upgrade the position, especially with the hiring of Ben Johnson who has had tremendous and proven success running the ball during his time as offensive coordinator in Detroit, the lone move made by Poles was the drafting of Monangai in the seventh round of this year’s draft. The rookie running back against the Bengals rushed for over 176 yards and nearly had 200 scrimmage yards.

Ryan Poles’ most important draft selection of his tenure has been the drafting quarterback Caleb Williams first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, a quarterback who has been a lightning rod for debates regarding if the Bears took the right signal-caller. Following a disappointing loss and lackluster performance against the Baltimore Ravens the previous Sunday, Williams had arguably the best game of his short NFL career, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 53 yards paired with two receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown. More importantly for Poles, his second-year quarterback led his team on a game-winning touchdown drive with less than a minute left which saved the franchise and the general manager from one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory.

 Ryan Poles’ short and long-term roster decision will be influenced by his draftees’ success

Sunday’s win due to several players scouted, drafted, and signed by Ryan Poles helps the general manager going forward, especially with the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. Before Sunday’s win against the Bengals, fans and analysts believed that the Bears would be highly active in trading for several positional needs, including defensive end and running back. Due to the success of Monangai and Booker, Poles could look to still trade to improve the positions, but more so look to add depth rather than impactful talent.

The ability for players drafted and scouted by Poles to make impactful plays helps the general manager plan for saving potential draft selection that could be move in a costlier trade. A prime example is Tuesday’s trade for edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka with the Browns, as the Bears added much needed defensive line depth while also adding a seventh-round selection. In prior years, due to struggles from players drafted by Ryan Poles, Chicago’s general manager could have easily wanted to trade a higher draft selection for a more elite-level player, costing the team much needed draft assets.

Ryan Poles’ building momentum with his drafted talent could also lead to a different way in which Chicago handles the upcoming offseason. Where running back and defensive line were likely to be the main focus once the season is over, the plans could change with presence of Monangai and Booker if they continue to be productive. Poles could now look to utilize assets to help improve Chicago’s defensive secondary as there have been significant injuries at the cornerback position and questions regarding the long-term stability at the safety position. The general manager could use a high-round selection on either improving the defensive secondary or the offensive line if the running back and defensive end position is solidified before the end of the 2025 season.

Although there is valid criticism as Ryan Poles’ tenure as the Bears’ general manager since 2022, there have been recent moments that provide credibility that the roster is on the right track. Chicago has won several close score games this season, as several of Poles’ most significant draft selections or depth signings have been the difference-makers in those victories. Sunday’s win over the Bengals might have been the most promising positives confirmations that the team’s general manager has the roster trending the correct direction.

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Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland went down early in Sunday’s dominating 31-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie caught only one pass, a big 31 yard grab that helped the Bears move down the field to score on their opening drive.

Loveland suffered a hip injury after only 6 snaps and did not return to the game. Fortunately for the Bears, it seems the injury isn’t as serious. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the tight end’s hip injury is “not to be believed as serious and he is expected to have a chance to play Sunday”

The Chicago Bears have an encouraging update on Colston Loveland

Schefter announced the encouraging update on Loveland, via X.

Bears TE Colston Loveland’s hip injury is not believed to be serious and he is expected to have a chance to play Sunday at the Raiders, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 22, 2025

During Monday afternoon’s press conference, Ben Johnson confirmed Schefter’s report, stating that “it doesn’t seem like anything super serious.”

It was unfortunate to see Loveland go down on Sunday, especially when he was starting to find his footing in the Bears’ offense. Even though he only had one reception, he was targeted three times early in the game. Hopefully, he can come back fully healthy in time for Week 4 against the Raiders.

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The Chicago Bears were blown out in Detroit on Sunday by the Lions in a 52-21 throttling, as head coach Ben Johnson made his return to Detroit for the first time since leaving the team this past January. Johnson served as the Lions’ offensive play-caller for the last three and a half season, turning their offense into one of the most explosive and consistently productive unit in the league over that time. It was that level of production which led Chicago into hiring the play-caller, yet through two games into the 2025 season, it appears that the promising head coach has gotten away from the scheme that symbolized his successful play-calling.

Ben Johnson isn’t executing the same style of play-calling early on that he did when he was successful in Detroit

Ben Johnson’s offensive success from 2022 to 2024 with the Lions was due in part to two significant factors, which including a strong rushing offense paired with a utilization of two tight end sets to set up the passing offense. During the three years in which Johnson served as Detroit’s play-caller, the offense featured at least one 1,000-yard rusher each year, along with the rushing attack generating over 2,100 rushing yards or more in each of those three seasons. In those three seasons, the Lions rushing offense finished 11th or higher in the league in rushing yards.

Johnson’s ability to have a successful rushing offense matters significantly to the success of the passing offense because he has had a strong reliance on play-action pass-designs to help free up passing targets. With his reliance on the two-tight end formations, Ben Johnson has been create spacing for his pass-catchers as opposing defenses are fooled into believing that an upcoming play will be a run due to the formation and then be frozen by a play-action. The opposing linebackers and safeties being frozen by a fake hand off has allowed for the Lions’ tight ends, especially Sam LaPorta to be highly productive the past two seasons, as he has racked up over 146 receptions and 1,615 receiving yards.

The successful level of rushing production paired with tight end productivity on offense was what Bears’ fans and the media expected the team was getting when Ben Johnson was hired back in January of this year. However, through the first two games of 2025, neither has transpired under Johnson, as it appears that the play-caller has gotten away with what got him hired. In Chicago’s two games, their running back in D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai have recorded a total of 36 rushing attempts, with an average attempt per game being 18 so far.

During the Lions first two games of the 2024 season, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combined for 52 rushing attempts under Johnson. Additionally, the Lions’ dynamic duo recorded over 260 rushing yards in their first two game last year, while Swift and Monangai have combined for 144 rushing yards over the past two week, with a majority of the rookie’s rushing production coming at the end of Sunday’s blowout loss. To make matter worse for Ben Johnson, his second-year quarterback in Caleb Williams as nearly half of Chicago’s rushing yards in the two games, as he has rushed for 88 yards.

Without a consistent and productive rushing offense, Johnson’s ability to setup the passing offense off of play-action designs will fail miserably, as there is no threat to freeze opposing defenders. Furthermore, In Chicago’s two losses, Ben Johnson has failed to get his tight ends involved in the passing offense.  Cole Kmet and rookie first-rounder Colston Loveland have combined for a total of eight targets, six receptions, and 66 receiving yards with 52 of those yards coming on two catches by Kmet.

Last season in Detroit first two games, Johnson’s offense targeted tight ends nine times, as LaPorta averaged nearly four receptions in those two games. The failure to get Kmet and Loveland more involved in the passing offense is even more confusing, given what Ben Johnson showed in the preseason. In Chicago’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, the two tight ends were targeted three time which led to three receptions for over 59 receiving yards on the lone touchdown drive by the starting offense.

Ben Johnson could be lacking confidence in his current cast of running backs

An issue Johnson may be having with his rushing offense through the Bears’ first two games in a lack of confidence in his running back personnel. During his time in Detroit, Ben Johnson had three capable ball-carriers in Montgomery, Gibbs, and Jamaal Williams who were capable of being dual-threat half-backs. All three backs were capable being successful on inside and outside runs and contained an even balance of power and speed.

Unfortunately for Ben Johnson, the Bears running backs lack that needed blend of power and speed, along with Monangai having no experience being a rookie. Although Swift has breakaway speed, he has struggled with vision, especially when it comes to choosing the correct running lane on run between the tackles. The struggle in having a starting running back being ineffective on inside runs kills Johnson’s ability to have an effective passing offense set up by play-action designs.

On Sunday, the Bears got their third running back in Roschon Johnson, yet he did not record a single handoff nor was on field for a play. The issue for Ben Johnson when it comes to uses Johnson is that the third year running back is terrific in short yardage situation, but lacks game-changing speed as his longest rushing attempt of 2024 was just nine yards. This again fails to create any credible threat for Chicago’s rushing offense, which in turn renders the passing offense ineffective.

Heading into this past offseason and leading up to the start of this season, fans and the media were highly critical of general manager Ryan Poles’ inability to address the running back position. It was expected that Chicago would sign a veteran back in free agency or utilize a high round selection during the draft, yet Monangai was the only player added when he was taken in the seventh round of this year’s draft. Johnson’s lack of faith in his running back was shown during ten plays in the second quarter against the Lions on Sunday, where only two running plays were called.

Chicago starting the 2025 season with two losses was to be expected with a new head coach and a second-year quarterback, but there was supposed to be more productivity and continuity on offense under Ben Johnson. There hasn’t been a reliance on the rushing offense to help set up the passing offense while also not utilizing the tight ends more when passing. The best way for Johnson to get his team, especially offense, in the right direction would be to make more of a focus on what made him successful during his three seasons with Detroit.

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The Chicago Bears were humiliated on Sunday. In Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit, the Bears lost 52-21. The offense struggled throughout the game, and the defense collapsed completely.

There are way too many concerns regarding the team already. Caleb Williams has shown flashes but hasn’t lived up to the hype yet, the offensive line has looked terrible yet again, and the pass rush has been nonexistent. However, one of the biggest concerns is how the Bears’ rookies have looked.

Granted, it’s only been two games. However, many of the Bears’ top draft picks from this season have been failing to make an impact.

The Chicago Bears’ rookies have been pretty much nonexistent in the first two games of the season

In the first two games of the 2025 season, tenth overall pick Colston Loveland has been a non-factor in both games. During Sunday’s embarrassing loss, Loveland had only one target and zero catches. While it is early, it is very concerning that the Bears’ first-round pick of the 2025 season has not been involved in the offense at all. To top it off, nearly every Bears draft pick from 2025 has yet to make an impact.

Zack Pearson of Bear Report revealed in a post on X, how the 2025 Bears rookie class has done through two games.

Checking in on the #Bears rookie class through two games:

Colston Loveland 3 targets, 2 receptions.
Luther Burden 3 targets, 2 receptions.
Ozzy Trapilo DNP in Wk1, inactive in Wk2
Shemar Turner inactive in both games
Zah Frazier on NFI
Luke Newman hasn't played
Kyle Monangai 2…

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) September 14, 2025

Wide receiver Luther Burden only had one reception for five yards during Sunday’s game. Burden showed in training camp and the preseason that he can be a huge factor for the team. Unfortunately, he has yet to have an opportunity.

Another major concern is Ozzy Trapilo and Shemar Turner not even seeing the field yet. Trapilo was active in Week 1’s loss to Minnesota but did not play. Both Trapilo and Turner were healthy scratches during Sunday’s loss. Having two second-round picks who did not even suit up is very concerning. Especially when both the offensive and defensive lines clearly need help. While it is early, this could look really bad on Bears GM Ryan Poles.

Ryan Poles has failed many times at drafting

The Bears’ general manager has had a clear problem with drafting. Since being hired in 2022, the Bears have had a record of 15-38 under Poles. To make it worse, the team has a horrific 3-18 record against the NFC North since Poles was hired. Poles was given a multi-year contract extension to match up with Ben Johnson’s contract.

Poles has missed on multiple draft picks since joining the team. Darnell Wright has not lived up to his hype since being drafted in 2023. Wright has struggled badly during the first two games of the 2025 season. Poles also drafted players such as Velus Jones, Zacch Pickens, and Tyler Scott. These players seemed to have high potential, but none of them worked out.

Poles also drafted punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, while star running back Bucky Irving was selected just a couple of picks later.

While Poles did draft some really good players, such as Rome Odunze and Kyler Gordon, there are way more questionable draft decisions than positive ones.

Pretty much, the Bears have a clear issue with evaluating young talent. The Bears’ rookies need to start making an impact soon, or the Bears’ GM will be in even more hot water.

The post Chicago Bears rookies are failing to make an impact early in 2025 appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears will wrap up their 2025 preseason on Friday night when they travel to Kansas City to play the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. There will be quite a bit of anticipation heading into the final preseason exhibition because both Kansas City and Chicago will have their starters play, which is a rarity for the final contest before the regular season starts. Fans and media will be focused on Bears’ quarterback Caleb Williams to see if he can have another stellar performance, but it may be in the team’s best interest for their second-year signal caller to work with their rookie wide receiver who also has been performing well.

Luther Burden and the offense have played well in the preseason despite not playing together as a whole

Bears’ rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III has been one of the more intriguing players during training camp and preseason, as he impressed in several different areas on the field. When general manager Ryan Poles drafted the Missouri pass-catcher with the 39th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, scouting experts believed that the team had landed a steal of draft due the immense potential that the collegiate prospect possessed. Many talent evaluators believed that Burden was a first-round talent if not for questions about his character and dedication to put him hard work.

With the Bears needing a wide receiver in the draft, many were surprised that Poles and the franchise decided to take Luther Burden, not because the two weren’t a match for one another, but because draft analysts believed the team would address the position with a mid-round selection. Burden being added to Ben Johnson’s new offensive scheme made total sense, as Chicago’s offense lacked a reliable receiver capable of playing the slot position and being a deep threat too. Paired with fellow rookie Colston Loveland, Poles gave Williams a full complement of wide receivers and tight ends to work with.

During the offseason and training camp, Burden was hampered by a soft tissue injury which greatly affected his ability to work with Williams and the starting offense. Due to the slow ramp up period, this has been the reason why Luther Burden has been playing prominently with the second-string offense and catching passing from backup quarterback Tyson Bagent during the preseason. Despite having to deal with the time lost recovering from the injury, the rookie wide receiver looks like he fully understands Johnson’s new offensive scheme.

The excitement for that full complement of pass-catchers has grown over the team’s first two preseason games as Luther Burden has stood out in both contests, while Williams and the other offensive starters had a near perfect touchdown drive against the Bills this past Sunday night. Although Burden impressed with several nifty receptions, including several open-field moves after his catches, it was his run blocking that really surprised fans and analysts. The rookie wide receiver had several key run-blocks on touchdown scoring runs in goal-line situations, as receivers being able to assist in blocking on run plays has been a significant point of emphasis for Johnson’s new offense.

Now with one more exhibition left before the regular season and the Bears’ offensive starters likely to play three series against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday, it is in Johnson’s best interest to have Williams and Luther Burden connect a few times if possible. Burden being targeted by Chicago’s starting quarterback can allow for the two to build chemistry and timing before the first game of the regular season on September 8th against the Minnesota Vikings. Whether be a short route from the slot or a deep pass lined up out wide, the Bears’ rookie receiver deserves to start getting live game reps and potential receptions with Williams at quarterback.

Additionally, from a play-design and scouting standpoint, it is Johnsons’ best interest to begin and incorporate Luther Burden into the starting offense in the team’s final preseason game. On the touchdown drive against the Bills, Williams completed passes to five different pass-catchers, with three different players recording a catch of 19 yards or more. Imagine if Chicago’s starting quarterback can connect with Burden on an impactful play on Friday, which would then reinforce the belief that the Bears’ passing offense has a quantity of legitimate pass-catching threats.

Luther Burden’s presence in the starting offense can unlock so many different assets to the offensive scheme

Burden’s presence in the starting offense could be a massive one, as the opening touchdown drive was a glimpse into Johnson’s vision on offense, especially when it comes to passing the ball. Chicago’s new head coach will often deploy a two tight end set with Loveland and Cole Kmet, which could make defending the middle of the field almost impossible for opposing linebackers and safeties. With two impactful tight ends, it will also allow for Johnson to deploy a versatile receiver like Luther Burden in a variety of ways.

Having a versatile threat such as Burden, who can be a legitimate threat whether on downfield throws or run after catch on short routes, it allows Johnson to be that more creative with play-design. Having offensive drives with Luther Burden on the field with Williams, Kmet, or Loveland could really force opposing defenses pick their poison when it comes to how they want to defend either the middle of the field or the flats. Having the rookie wide receiver work with the starters on Friday begins the difficult process of having to develop gameplans on how to stop Chicago’s offense when that personnel is on field.

The importance of being able to get live reps before the regular season for Williams and Burden is vital given what happened last season. In 2024, Chicago’s rookie quarterback didn’t get a chance to fully work with perennial Pro bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen during the preseason due to Allen’s leg injury. When it came to the regular season, the two failed to connect early on as the accomplished pass-catcher really didn’t become a factor in the Bears’ offense until several games into the year. Luther Burden getting even a target or two from Williams against the Chiefs could help even a little bit with understanding each other’s timing on certain plays.   

Johnson’s offensive vision will come to fruition starting on September 8th and Luther Burden will be a part of that and likely seeing an expanding role as the 2025 season progresses. Although Burden has flashed during the preseason, it has been without catching or being on the same field as Williams and the rest of the starters. On Friday night, it is in the Bears’ best interest to start the process of integrating the rookie wide receiver into the offense, as the offense as a whole has a chance to be an explosive unit once the season begins in two weeks.

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Greg Olsen is well aware of how to succeed as a tight end for the Chicago Bears. As he watched the team’s 38-0 takedown of the Buffalo Bills, Olsen got a full view of new head coach Ben Johnson’s dynamic tight end plans.

Despite already having Cole Kmet on their roster, the Bears used their No. 10 overall pick on Colston Loveland. Still, head coach Ben Johnson was known to run plenty of 12 personnel during his time with the Detroit Lions. Furthermore, both players give the Bears completely different skillsets, allowing Johnson to be versatile in how he draws up plays for his tight ends.

Against the Bills, Kmet caught a long pass up the middle for 29 yards while Loveland made a pair of grabs for 26 yards. Both were featured in the offense when the starters were on the field. Olsen doesn’t think that’ll go away anytime soon once the regular season begins, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

“I do think the consistency of early down 12 personnel with Cole and Colston, I think that is something they’re going to want to continue to major in,” Olsen said. “I think that’s going to be a big part of their offense.”

“Their ability to go between 11 big with Cole and 11 faster with Colston is kind of similar to what me and Dez (Clark) used to do early in my career,” he continued. “And then the 12 personnel stuff with DJ, Rome and obviously Luther the rookie, who they love, and Olamide, that’s a really good group of guys that you can build different personnel groupings with. You don’t draft a tight end 10th overall if you don’t have big visions for what he can do.”

Ben Johnson ready to unleash Chicago Bears tight end tandem 

The Bears made Loveland the first tight end off of the 2025 draft board primarily due to his pass-catching ability. Johnson found massive success with Sam LaPorta during his time on the Lions. Now, Loveland is the head coach’s next chess piece to mold.

During his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. Now in Chicago, Johnson will be looking to get Loveland open in space. The tight end will be a mismatch for most linebackers due to his size and athleticism. Which is exactly why Johnson had to have him in his first Bears offense.

Kmet has been with the franchise since 2020, appearing in 84 games. He has been a staple of the offense, catching 258 passes for 2,592 yards and 19 touchdowns. Kmet will continue to operate as a safety blanket for Williams while Johnson is adamant he’ll remain a key piece of the offense. While it was just one play in a preseason game, Kmet proved his connection with Williams remains strong.

Johnson will need to figure out exactly how to make all the tight end puzzle pieces fit together. But all of Chicago’s opponents are going to have a difficult time stopping the one-two punch at tight end.

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On Sunday, the Chicago Bears will kick off their preseason schedule when they take on the Miami Dolphins at a very hot Soldier Field. On Friday, head coach Ben Johnson announced that starting quarterback Caleb Williams would not play in the preseason contest, as backup signal-caller Tyson Bagent would start the game. The decision to sit Williams in the preseason is questionable given the fact that the second-year player is not only learning a new offensive scheme under Johnson but is also working with several new pieces on offense.

Caleb Williams needs live game reps due to the multiple new aspects to Chicago’s offense under Ben Johnson

Caleb Williams not playing in the preseason opener is a questionable choice for several reasons, especially with Johnson installing a new offense, and what has transpired during training camp, especially with his quarterback. Williams has been open regarding the slow process of having to learn the new offensive scheme under the team’s new head coach, as live game rep would help to provide much-needed game film to assist in more rapidly understanding the play book. Additionally, it would allow Johnson to potentially find a set of plays to carry over to the regular season that his quarterback would have comfort with when there might be certain learning curves with the new offense.

A new playbook isn’t the only new aspect to Chicago’s 2025 offense, as there are several new starters across the offensive line and at the skill positions. Williams, who was the highest sacked quarterback in the NFL last year, has three new interior linemen protecting him in Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. With three new veterans in place, it would be best for Caleb Williams to build a comfort level in a live game environment when it comes to throwing form the pocket, especially since he can’t get hit during practice.

Although the Bears will have several skill position players returning in D’Andre Swift, Cole Kmet, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze, they will have two rookies that will be feature parts of Johnson’s new offense. Tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden are expected have significant roles, and will likely be targeted by Caleb WIlliams during the regular season. Too often is it seen in the regular season that a quarterback and rookie pass-catcher are not on the same page, which could lead to a turnover, as preseason reps could help Caleb Williams build live rapport with Burden and Loveland.

The game speed and live setting are something that practice can’t really mimic, no matter how much Ben Johnson values live scrimmages against different defenses. Live preseason reps allow extended situations that can’t be controlled, which is something that would be perfect for Williams. Chicago’s new head coach was noted for making this difficult for Caleb Williams at the start of training camp in order to improve the quarterback’s play and growth, as playing against opposing team in a live game would be the peak of having the Bears’ signal-caller play in an uncontrollable situation.

Having Chicago’s quarterback sit out valuable preseason games now especially with the immense focus he has been recently doesn’t allow for him to fight against his detractors. Over the past several weeks, Caleb Williams has received significant criticism and analysts due to his struggles early on in practices, with even his reaction to individual throwing drills drawing immense and overblown interest from fans and social media personalities. Allowing the signal-caller to make even a small appearance and have a chance to play well in a live game setting would significantly push back against the critics that have been overtly critical the last week and half.

Caleb WIlliams could follow the same path as Mitchell Trubisky as a second-year quarterback not playing in the preseason

A new Bears’ head coach sitting a second-year quarterback in the preseason, despite the potential need for live game reps in a new offense, has been seen before as the same thing happen in 2018 with head coach Matt Nagy and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. In 2018, Chicago had five preseason games including the Hall of Fame game, yet Trubisky only appeared in offensive series for one game and the first half of another. Like Caleb Williams, the Bears’ 2018 starting signal-caller struggled in training camp with the new offensive scheme being installed by Nagy, as the new playbook was noted for been extensive and time consuming to understand.

There was concern for Trubisky’s ability to understand and execute Nagy’s new offense, especially after the new head coach sat most of his starters in the third preseason game, where the starters usually played into the second half. Those concerns were validated when Chicago’s offense struggled to start the 2018 season, as the unit only scored four touchdowns in their first three games while the quarterback had noticeable periods executing the new scheme. A situation where Caleb Williams and the offense struggle with Johnson’s new offensive playbook could be a disastrous scenario, especially for fans and analysts that were critical of the 2024 first overall selection’s rookie performance last season.

Unlike in 2018, where the Bears offense was able to take its time to get going, the same can’t be said for the 2025 team, as they are expected to be a fringe playoff team. This means that every game will count for Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, and one game where the offense struggles early on could result in the team missing the playoffs in January. Giving Williams more reps better ensures that struggles are less likely to take place in the regular season because plays being executed in live game situations enabled for a quicker and more thorough understanding.

If this was year two of Johnson’s coaching tenure, it would be a different story if the coach decided to sit Caleb WIlliams for a preseason game because there would have already been a year’s worth of live game experience in the new offense. However, in a year with so many new aspects to the offense, along with Williams learning his fourth offensive scheme in three seasons, it is best to give the embattled signal-caller as many live exhibition reps as possible. The worst thing that can happen to the Bears in 2025 is for their promising quarterback to struggle under the team’s new offensive mind coach because available game reps weren’t taken advantage of in August.

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On Tuesday, the Chicago Bears had one of their most physical practices in recent memory, as several skirmishes broke out between the offense and defense due the significant intensity. Although the physicality was a welcomed sight, especially with new head coach Ben Johnson trying to install a cultural change for his players, the intense practice came with a cost as tight end Cole Kmet left with a potential injury. Despite Kmet not suffering a significant injury, his role in Johnson’s new offense is paramount and the offense being unable to lose the presence of their pass-catching tight end.

Cole Kmet’s presence is specifically vital for Ben Johnson’s new offense

Heading into the 2025 season, Cole Kmet will be entering his sixth season with Chicago, as the veteran tight end has been one of the most reliable and sure-handed pass-catchers at his position. Before the 2024 campaign where Kmet wasn’t featured in Shane Waldron’s offensive scheme, Kmet had recorded three consecutive seasons of 50 receptions or more, along with 500 receiving yards or more. Additionally, the Bears’ veteran tight end had recorded 13 touchdown catches in a two-year span.

When Johnson was hired as head coach earlier this year, many fans and analysts were extremely excited as the Bears were getting one of the best offensive play-callers in the NFL, as the Detroit Lions consistently ranked as one of the league’s best offenses over the past three years. What made Chicago’s new head coach’s offense so effective was his reliance on multiple tight end sets to help create confusion, whether on running or passing plays. One of the reasons why the Bears’ drafted tight end Colston Loveland tenth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft was to pair the rookie with Cole Kmet in order to create dynamic duo at the tight end position.

Although fans and analysts believe Loveland’s role at tight end will be a significant feature in Johnson’s new offensive scheme, it is Cole Kmet’s role that will be more vital, especially this season. Kmet’s ability as a route-runner and reliable pass-catcher allows for an immense level of flexibility when scheming offensive plays, especially if the Bears’ want to work from a two tight end formation. The veteran tight end’s high-level pass-catching capability allows him to function almost as a third wide receiver, especially when the Bears may use a heavy run formation, but plan on passing.

Kmet’s versatility as a route running whether lined up along the offensive line or out wide as a receiver, gives Johnson immense flexibility for using Loveland as a second tight end. The rookie can be kept in to block whether for run or pass plays, or be used on short-yard routes that could be freed up by veteran running a deeper route over the middle. Additionally, there could be a scenario where Cole Kmet is kept in to run or pass block, while the rookie pass-catcher is used on a more significant passing route.

Despite Cole Kmet’s injury not being serious, it is something to keep an eye on, as any time missed could significantly hinder Johnson’s goals on offense. If Kmet is slowed or misses any games early in the season, there is a noticeable drop off if Loveland is the team’s number one tight end and has to be pair with backups like Durham Smythe or Stephen Carlson. If Chicago’s veteran pass-catcher is sidelined, the offense loses its flexibility and ability to disguise plays, as opposing defenses will likely focus on Loveland as a pass-catching threat while identifying the backup tight end as the likely blocker.

Kmet’s presence in the offense, whether as a feature pass-catcher or as a decoy is vital to free up Loveland, matter so much for everyone else involved in Johnson’s offensive scheme. Chicago’s head coach goal with two tight end formations is to be unpredictable on every play whether run or pass. Cole Kmet and Loveland on the field together, whether as a pass-catchers or run-blockers can potentially free a Bears’ wide receiver or running back on a pass or run play because so much defensive attention is being focused on the two tight ends.

A key example of the potential confusion Johnson is trying to create with having two credible tight ends consistently on the field in Kmet and Loveland was a touchdown play called in the Bears Lions Week 16 game last year. From a two tight end and single back formation, Johnson called a deep pass play where quarterback Jared Goff connected with wide receiver Jameson Williams on an 82-yard touchdown pass. On what appeared to be a likely run formation, Johnson utilized one tight end as a pass-blocker while the other tight end’s pass-route allowed Williams to be his defender over the top, which is the ideal goal for both Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland.

Cole Kmet’s familiarity with Caleb Williams is important with new offense being installed

Another reason why Kmet’s injury, although not serious, needs to be monitored is because of the tight end’s veteran presence in a new offense. Chicago not only has a new offensive scheme under Johnson but also has two new rookie pass-catchers who are expected to contribute significantly in their first with Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden. For second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, comfort and familiarity will be key early on as the quarterback could look to target pass-catchers he built familiarity with last year in Cole Kmet, Rome Odunze, and DJ Moore.

Especially without Kmet as a pass-catcher whether over the middle or out wide, Williams could struggle in utilizing the whole field on passing-plays. One of the more noticeable weaknesses of Chicago’s young signal-caller is his inability to target check down targets when the big play target is unavailable. Tight ends are usually seen as reliable safe targets for quarterbacks when a deep target isn’t open and if Cole Kmet isn’t on the field, Williams could fall into the habit of holding onto the ball longer than he should.

Despite not being featured significantly in the offense last year, Kmet and Williams had a strong relationship when the two were able to connect. In 2024, Cole Kmet had four games where he was targeted five or more times, he either had four or more receptions or at least 70 receiving yards or more. These numbers demonstrate that when made a significant focus in the passing offense, the rookie quarterback felt comfortable targeting the veteran tight end.

The familiarity Kmet has with Williams is what Johnson is looking to build with his new offense, especially with rookie Colston Loveland. If Cole Kmet misses even one or two games early on, that familiarity and needed formation flexibility created with two credible pass-catching tight ends could be hindered immensely. It is vital for Johnson’s offense to have as much continuity heading into the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Vikings, which is why Tuesday’s injury needs to be accounted for, serious or not.

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The Chicago Bears’ first unofficial depth chart should be taken with a grain of salt. Chicago hasn’t even played their first preseason game yet and head coach Ben Johnson is still refining the roster.

Still, the Bears’ opening depth chart at least shows where Johnson’s head is at. Furthermore, it’s a starting off point for any player looking to retain their starting role or anybody in danger of being cut. While there are sure to be plenty of changes throughout camp, the Bears at least know where they stand heading into Week 1 of the preseason.

Johnson warned his players not to look too deeply into their initial depth chart. However, there are still numerous eye-opening inclusions that must be addressed.

Bears unofficial depth chart pic.twitter.com/2pypTVneak

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) August 5, 2025

Honorable Mention: Tyson Bagent holds early QB2 lead 

Youngster Tyson Bagent and veteran Case Keenum are battling for the opportunity to backup Caleb Williams. While Bagent came to the Bears prior to Johnson’s arrival, he has already made a strong impression on the head coach.

Ultimately, if everything goes to plan, whoever is Williams’ direct backup would only need to come in on kneel down situations. However, Bagent being in the driver’s seat for the role is telling of both players work during training camp.

Braxton Jones retains starting left tackle 

Throughout training camp, arguably the biggest battle brewing is at left tackle. All three of Braxton Jones, Ozzy Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie are battling for the right to block Williams’ blindside. Interestingly, Amegadjie is listed as Darnell Wright’s backup at right tackle. For now, Jones holds the edge over Trapilo.

He has looked strong when on the field during his time in Chicago, starting 40 games over his three years with the team. In 2024, Jones’ 77.4 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 21/140 tackles. However, he appeared in just 12 games after suffering a season-ending ankle injury. That came after just 11 appearances in 2023 due to injury. Jones may have the starting job now, but his first order of business is simply proving he can remain on the gridiron.

A second-round pick by the Bears in 2025, Johnson likes what he sees from Trapilo. He was a standout right tackle at Boston College, earning First-team All-ACC honors in 2024. However, now he is being tasked with moving over to the left side. How he responds to live action during the preseason will determine Trapilo’s rookie playing time.

It’s still early in camp and Jones is still ramping up from his injury layoff. But as it stands, the veteran holds the upper hand at left tackle.

Rookie treatment 

Trapilo wasn’t the only rookie to earn backup duties on the first depth chart. As Johnson builds the foundation of his roster, he is relying on his veterans to start before easing his rookies into larger roles.

Luther Burden was the Bears’ first of three second-round picks. However, he missed time during the offseason program with a soft tissue injury. As it stands, he sits behind veteran Olamide Zaccheaus for the third wide receiver job. Zaccheaus will certainly have a role throughout the year, but it’d be shocking to see Burden not rise up the depth chart as he gets more acclimated to the NFL.

Seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai has been drawing plenty of buzz throughout the offseason despite his draft status. Still, he is listed as the fifth-string running back. It was inevitable D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson would be ahead of him. Perhaps Johnson is trying to send Monangai a message by listing him behind players such as Ian Wheeler and Travis Homer.

At linebacker, the Bears took a big gamble on Ruben Hyppolite in the fourth-round. He has a rare brand of speed and athleticism you don’t often see from the position. Still, he is listed behind Noah Sewell and Amen Ogbongbemiga, meaning Johnson still wants to see the rookie prove himself.

Chicago Bears indecisiveness

Johnson noted that he wouldn’t use the classic ‘or’ designation on his depth chart. However, at both tight end and defensive tackle, the head coach was a bit indecisive in his listing.

While the other rookies were relegated to backup roles, Colston Loveland was listed as a second starter at tight end. Rather than being behind Cole Kmet, who is also listed as starter, Johnson gave him his own role. The Bears will run plenty of 12 personnel, meaning both tight ends will share the field. But having two tight end starters instead of a third wide receiver is a peculiar decision.

As is listing five starting defensive tackles. The initial depth chart’s defense featured 12 players, meaning one will have to be relegated to a backup role. But Johnson isn’t ready to cross that bridge just yet, leaving things open to competition.

Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter and Dayo Odeyingbo are all locked into starting roles. That leaves veteran Andrew Billings as the odd man out. But with the Bears’ run defense falling off a cliff after Billings’ season-ending injury, perhaps Johnson wants to give him an opportunity to earn a prominent role once more.

Ultimately though, Johnson will need to make some depth chart cuts as the roster fully comes together.

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Head coach Ben Johnson’s arrival to the Chicago Bears has brought an immense level of buzz to the Windy City. And now, the Bears have their first blueprint in place for what Johnson’s initial Chicago roster will look like, via Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.

Bears unofficial depth chart pic.twitter.com/2pypTVneak

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) August 5, 2025

Outside of some positions, Bears fans must take the first depth chart with a grain of salt. It’s unofficial after all. Following Chicago’s joint practices and preseason games, there will surely be changes as Johnson figures out how to put all the pieces together. Still, the Bears’ opening depth chart at least gives fans an idea of where Johnson’s head is at.

The head coach has made it clear how important he views joint practices to be, scheduling two in his debut season. Heading into their first preseason matchup against the Miami Dolphins, the Bears’ first depth chart should provide some extra motivation to any player on the roster looking to make an impact.

At the same time, Johnson is emphasizing the unofficial aspect of their depth chart. He is hoping it breeds competition, but he wants his team to understand that there’s still a long way to go until Week 1, via the team’s Tuesday press conference.

“Training camp is about competition,” Johnson said. “We’re trying to earn the right for the 53, we’re trying to earn a role. Defensively we don’t know who will be up for certain packages going into Week 1. Offensively, there’s a lot of battles going on. The message to the players was don’t look too far into the depth chart, particularly at this point in training camp.”

Coach Johnson is speaking with the media https://t.co/6p18m4osPt

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 5, 2025

Chicago Bears depth chart reveals tight end twist 

The first depth chart is sure to be analyzed fully until a new one is revealed. But on first glance, perhaps the most noticeable inclusion is that both Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland are listed as starters. Kmet holds the TE1 role over Loveland, but the rookie has his own starting job on the offense rather than being behind the veteran.

Johnson was known to run plenty of 12 personnel during his time with the Detroit Lions. Both Kmet and Loveland are sure to share to field quite often as Johnson introduces his offense in Chicago. The first depth chart draws more questions on exactly how they’ll be used, but clearly the Bears head coach has big plans in mind for both.

As the season draws closer, perhaps Johnson narrows down the field. He listed five starting defensive linemen which seems unfeasible, meaning eventually the depth chart will need to be crunched down. But even if/when that depth chart realignment comes for Kmet and Loveland, it won’t change much. Johnson is expecting both of them to be key offensive weapons for quarterback Caleb Williams and help re-define the Bears’ offense.

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Things were noticeably different for the Chicago Bears‘ offense during practice No. 4. An offense that felt fortunate just to be able to snap the ball through the first three days of practice found their rhythm on Saturday at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois.

One of the bigger storylines for Chicago was the return of rookie tight end Colston Loveland. The No. 9 pick started training camp as a limited participant as he recovers from a shoulder injury. The Bears let him loose in drills on Saturday, which was closed to the public due to weather.

Colston Loveland had a big day for the Chicago Bears

Per Adam Jahns of CHGO Bears, Loveland had a promising showing, catching three passes during drills.

“Today’s big news from Bears camp: rookie tight end Colston Loveland making three catches in 7v7 (two) and team periods (one) — including one from Caleb Williams for a first down (7v7),” Jahns posted on X.

Today’s big news from Bears camp: rookie tight end Colston Loveland making three catches in 7v7 (two) and team periods (one) — including one from Caleb Williams for a first down (7v7).

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) July 26, 2025

Caleb Williams and the offense had a better day

The offense as a whole looked much better, defeating the defense in team drills.

Per Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, the Bears’ offense won their two-minute drill against the defense with a touchdown pass from Williams to Rome Odunze.

The post Chicago Bears see major offensive changes on Saturday appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Heading into training camp, two of the biggest injury concerns on the Chicago Bears were left tackle Braxton Jones and tight end Colston Loveland. But before the Bears even suited up for their first open practice, general manager Ryan Poles has put those injury concerns to bed.

Poles confirmed that both Loveland and Jones will be ready to go for training camp. Loveland is making his way back from offseason shoulder surgery while Jones is returning from a season-ending ankle injury. While Poles admitted they may not be at 100 percent capacity from the moment they step on the field, both should be competing at their respective positions sooner rather than later, via the team’s Tuesday press conference.

“Those guys put in a ton of work, alongside our trainers to return and be ready to go for training camp,” Poles said. “We’re excited to get those guys back going again.”

“I’m sure there’s going to be a ramp up period. They haven’t played football in a while,” he continued. “But really, they’re ready to go, knock that rust off and get going.”

Chicago Bears awaiting Colston Loveland debut, Braxton Jones return

Both Loveland and Jones are in positions to make massive impacts on the Bears in 2025. But the first order of business was simply getting back on the field. With their injury problems seeming mostly in the rearview mirror, head coach Ben Johnson can now focus on their respective position battles.

Jones is entering a three-man race with Kiran Amegadjie and rookie Ozzy Trapilo for the starting left tackle job. The latter two tackles split time with the first team throughout the offseason program with Jones injury. Trapilo especially is entering camp with plenty of hype. But in the 12 games he did play in 2024, Jones’ 77.4 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 21/140 tackles. It’ll be arguably the most crucial battle at camp, as the winner will be blocking Caleb Williams’ blindside.

Loveland isn’t entering as strong of a competition, as Johnson is sure to run plenty of 12 personnel sets. But in non two-two tight end formations, only Loveland or Cole Kmet will see the field. Kmet has shown plenty of flashes in Chicago and has received an endorsement from Johnson. But Loveland was the No. 10 overall pick, specifically taken for his pass catching ability. How Johnson divvies up the tight end playing time will be crucial.

The head coach will need to make final decisions once Week 1 draws closer. But for now, the Bears are just excited to have Loveland and Jones back on the field.

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In just a few days, Chicago Bears’ rookies will report to Halas Hall to kick off the team’s 2025 training camp, as there are high expectations for the offense with new head coach Ben Johnson. One of the rookies that will have significant focus on him from fans and the media will be Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, who was drafted by Chicago tenth overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The selection of Loveland was seen as a bit controversial due fellow tight end Tyler Warren being seen as the better prospect at the position, but Bears’ fans should have more comfort from the first-round selection once the season starts and game film grows.

Colston Loveland’s value will be shown through game film and not stat sheets in 2025

Leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, the possibility of Chicago taking a tight end became more and more of a possibility once it seemed that Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty would be off the board before the tenth spot. Given that Johnson’s offensive scheme relies heavily on two tight end sets, there was a likelihood the Bears would pivot to taking a prospect at that position, whether be Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland. Although Warren was seen as having more upside due to elite physical stature and athleticism, Loveland was seen as the more well-rounded tight end that was needed for Chicago’s new offense.

The selection of Loveland irked many Bears fans, as they believe Warren has more upside to be a game-changing tight end. Given that the Penn State tight end was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts just four selections after the Bears, fans and the media will likely often compare the two pass-catching prospects’ performances throughout the 2025 season. Despite facing constant comparisons to one another, both Warren and Loveland were drafted by teams that will highlight their strengths to the best ability possible.

Warren will likely have a better statistical 2025 rookie campaign over Loveland, not because he is the better tight end, but because he will be in an offensive that will demand more of his unique abilities. The Penn State pass-catcher is a pass coverage nightmare due to his large catching radius and his elite speed at his position. With the Colts’ struggles with their passing offense, Warren will likely receive an immense amount of passing targets and likely be either the team’s first or second pass-catcher throughout the year.

With Loveland, his role with the Bears won’t be highlighted via the stat sheet or catching production, but through game film, as he will have a vital role in the team’s new offense. Johnson will look to run the ball heavily, but also give the offense flexibility to throw from traditional run formations. Colston Loveland’s overall capabilities at a tight end will be utilized whether through run blocking or being able to create separation on passing routes, as he was heralded during pre-draft workouts for his superb route running traits.

The difference in the roles and usage for Warren and Loveland is what Bears’ fans must consider and take into account when comparing two rookie tight ends. The Colts’ first year pass-catcher may have more receptions, receiving yards, and highlight plays, yet Loveland will have more under the radar plays that helps Chicago’s offense even when he isn’t getting the ball. It is that effect on an offense that won’t show up on the stat sheet for Colston Loveland, but later when opposing teams, the media, and the fans review the All-22 film a few days later.

Imagine a scenario one week where Tyler Warren catches nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns while Colston Loveland only have four catches for 55 yards, but both the Colts and Bears win their respective games. Fans and NFL analysts will take the production totals and immediately assume that the Indianapolis’ tight end is obviously better than the other rookie. Additionally, the gameplans for both teams and how they decided to use Loveland and Warren will likely not be taken into account, which would explain the potential level of production.

Chicago fans might negatively criticize general manager Ryan Poles and Johnson for selecting the wrong tight end, but could be heavily mistaken once reviewing the game film. Although Loveland might have the less productive day from a pass-catching standpoint, his high-end ability to run-block could have assisted in helping running back D’Andre Swift break a massive run for a game-changing touchdown or ran a route that helped draw a defender away from a receiver who broke free for a deep touchdown throw from Caleb Williams. Colston Loveland’s performance might not wow fans when it comes to production, but will earn the respect of his peers after the game for doing the little things that attribute to a victory.

Colston Loveland will be productive due to a well-rounded supporting cast on offense

Although Loveland’s role and usage will be more universal in helping the Bears’ new offense as a whole, it doesn’t mean he won’t have his moments to shine. Colston Loveland joins veteran tight end Cole Kmet, which will not only give Chicago tremendous depth at the position, but one of the top-ten duos at the position in the NFL. The two pass-catchers complement each other so well, as opposing defenses will have to choose which one to focus on more when the two are on the field together.

With Johnson’s new offensive scheme and Kmet’s proven ability to be a difference-making pass-catcher over the middle, there will be games where Colston Loveland is able be highly productive as receiver, and not just as a run-blocker or passing decoy. There will be several games throughout his rookie campaign, where Loveland is a featured target in the passing offense, resulting him having either a multi-touchdown game or a 100-yards receiving contest. Johnson’s offense thrives on unpredictability and flexibility being able to execute a run or pass play from any type of formation, whether it is a traditional run or pass formation.

The presence of two credible pass-catching tight end makes Chicago’s offense that more dangerous as a whole, which will enable Loveland to truly thrive with whatever is asked from him in his role.  It just isn’t having Kmet alongside at the position that will help Colston Loveland be an elite-difference maker, but also having DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and fellow rookie Luther Burden III that will enable the rookie tight end to make plays. Chicago has a complete compliment of pass-catchers for Williams and because of the immense amount of passing targets, a different player will shine each Sunday.

It is highly likely Tyler Warren has a much better and more memorable rookie campaign that Colston Loveland, but the Bears’ tight end will have more value to the offense in a way that can be measured via stats. If Chicago has a top-tier offensive unit it will because of what their two tight end formations achieve on both running and passing-plays. There is a reason why Johnson valued Loveland as the best player at his position in the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Bears’ head coach will definitely look to put the prospect in the best position to succeed.

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When you’re a tight end selected within the first 10 picks of the NFL Draft, you’re expected to make an immediate impact. That’s at least one of the reasons the Chicago Bears drafted Colston Loveland, for his versatile skill set.

But Bears fans have been unable to see Loveland in action as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. He’ll need to learn quick in training camp with head coach Ben Johnson running a dynamic scheme. And if those roadblocks weren’t enough, Loveland will be battling for targets with veteran tight end Cole Kmet.

Still, the Bears made their Loveland draft decision with Kmet in mind. Furthermore, the rookie has already begun to craft a relationship with his new teammate. While Johnson will need to figure out how to make it work weekly, Loveland is confident he and Kmet will be a winning combination, via Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald.

Chicago Bears tight end duo 

Johnson was known to run plenty of 12 personnel with the Detroit Lions. It seems likely that Loveland and Kmet will be sharing the field quite often. However, each offer much different skill sets that will allow the head coach to get creative on offense.

Kmet is a better in-line blocker and will be used in the short to intermediate game. That’s not to say he won’t be a playmaker, as he made 258 catches for 2,592 yards and 19 touchdowns over his Bears career. Furthermore, with Keenan Allen and his team-leading seven touchdowns leaving the franchise, it wouldn’t be a shock to see those opportunities go to Kmet. But overall, he’ll operate as a key safety blanket for quarterback Caleb Williams, helping move the chains and make noise in the red zone.

Loveland’s goal will be using his athleticism to create mismatches against linebackers. Based on his draft selection, Johnson has already been scheming up ways to get the tight end open in space. Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before being named Second-team All-American in 2024 by setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (11).

The tight end was selected specifically for his pass catching ability, meaning Loveland will be used as an explosive weapon. But opposing teams can’t forget about Kmet, whose trusty hands will keep defenses honest and make the offense overall a bit more complex.

Colston Loveland growing with Caleb Williams 

While his play next to Kmet will be the talk of training camp, neither could succeed without a strong rapport with Williams. They haven’t been able to do much on the field yet, but Loveland is already loving, no pun intended, what he sees from his new quarterback.

“Yeah, great dude. Got a good energy about him,” Loveland said. “I could tell he works very hard and he takes it serious. He’s super cool, that’s my guy, looking forward to just continuing to build it, especially on the field.”

Johnson was linked to nearly every team with a coaching vacancy during the offseason. And yet, he chose the Bears. One of the main reasons was due to Williams being established as quarterback. But now able to build out the offense under his vision, Johnson had a lightbulb moment when Loveland was available at No. 10.

The tight end end must first return in training camp and prove he has a strong understanding of the offense. But if Loveland and Williams are an immediate hit, Chicago will have a dangerous offense in 2025 and beyond.

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Since being selected with the No. 10 overall pick, Chicago Bears fans have yet to see tight end Colston Loveland in action. Offseason shoulder surgery has kept him on the sidelines. Although, that is expected to change when training camp officially opens.

It’s not known how active Loveland will be on day one of training camp. But the rookie has been adamant that he will make his return sooner rather than later. Still, once the tight end is physically ready on the field, he must take in and incorporate head coach Ben Johnson’s dynamic scheme immediately.

On the bright side, Loveland confirmed that there have been no setbacks and his shoulder is feeling great, via Aaron McMann of MLive.com. But until he is catching live passes from quarterback Caleb Williams, it’s hard to tell how strong Loveland’s rookie impact will be.

“It’s been good. There haven’t really been live bullets flying yet,” Loveland said, via Aaron McMann of MLive.com. “We’ll really know in camp once I get out there, doing a lot more stuff.”

Chicago Bears not hitting panic button 

If Loveland’s injury was really going to cut into his rookie season, it’s fair to wonder if the Bears would’ve considered him with the No. 10 overall pick. Still, the tight end has a lot to learn once he gets onto the field.

Johnson won’t immediately turn the Bears into offensive dynamos like the Detroit Lions were. Obviously, that’s the ultimate goal. But the head coach is building his foundation in Chicago. He isn’t just going to run the same script. At the same time, the Bears not taking a massive leap forward offensively in 2025 would be a major disappointment.

Loveland is expected to play a sizable role in those plans. He was Johnson’s first pick with the Bears. While the team was connected to fellow top tight end prospect Tyler Warren, Chicago preferred Loveland due to his work in the pass game. Johnson is expected to use him as a versatile weapon, taking advantage of his his size and speed in mismatches against linebackers.

Of course, all of those plans are hypothetical until Loveland actually suits up. An early return in training camp would at least give the rookie plenty of reps to prepare.

Colston Loveland completely changes offense

The Bears already have Cole Kmet on their roster. As the seventh-highest paid tight end in the league, he is still going to have a role on offense. But Kmet is a better in-line blocker and should be used more in the short to intermediate game. Furthermore, it wouldn’t be shocked to see Kmet earn some of the team-leading seven touchdown grabs the now departed Keenan Allen made.

Loveland will still see opportunities in those roles, especially in the red zone. Johnson is also sure to run plenty of 12 personnel having both he and Kmet on the field together. But going No. 10 overall, the Bears want Loveland to be a true field stretcher and big play threat whenever he catches the ball.

During his three years at Michigan, the tight end caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before being named Second-team All-American in 2024. Loveland ended his time with the Wolverines by setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).

Training camp will be crucial for everyone on the Bears as they look to make a strong impression on Johnson and his staff. If Loveland is able to prove he is healthy and ready to contribute, it won’t be long before plays are being drawn up to get him open in space.

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Chicago Bears’ players will report to Halas Hall in less than two weeks, as several of the team’s 2025 Draft selections remaining unsigned, including their three second round picks. Although there is still time to finalize the rookie contracts for their selections, there is one signing that matters the most, which is Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. A potential rookie hold out could be costly for both Burden and the Bears, as new head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive needs the rookie to complete the offense’s potential explosive scheme.

Luther Burden III and the Bears’ offense would both be negatively affected by a potential contract hold out

If the Bears are unable to sign the Luther Burden III before training camp practices begin, it would be a significant concern, as the rookie has missed almost all team activities since being drafted back in April due to a soft-tissue injury. The time missed already is troubling, as with Johnson’s new offense, both rookie and veteran players need as much time to become familiar with new playbook. If Burden misses any time due to a hold out, it will likely mean that the offensive will have to make adjustments, while the wide receiver’s on field playing time will be delayed at the start of the 2025 season.

For Burden, it is imperative that he tries to work out a deal as soon as possible, as any time missed during training camp or preseason would delay or hinder his development during his rookie campaign. If the rookie wide receiver misses potentially the first week or two weeks of training camp due to no contract, it would likely result in him missing the first preseason game on August 10th against the Miami Dolphins. Missing live game reps would extremely costly because it may be the only time Luther Burden III gets a chance to work with the first team offense in a live game scenario, including second-year quarterback Caleb WIlliams.

From an offensive scheme standpoint, Burden’s presence in Johnson’s new offense is vital because the rookie provides heightened qualities that is needed at the slot receiver position. The rookie wide out from Missouri was highly heralded for his speed, elite quick twitch capabilities to beat defenders, and ability to be explosive threat downfield. With the departure of former Pro Bowl pass-catcher Keenan Allen, Chicago drafted Luther Burden III to be team’s slot receiver and deep ball specialist due to his success while at Missouri.

The role of Luther Burden III as the slot receiver in Chicago’s new offense is paramount, given what Johnson wants to do with the passing offense. Despite the Bears’ offensive scheme relying heavily on the rushing offense, the passing offense will utilize speed and mismatches to make plays downfield. A staple of the new head coach’s passing offense is having a deep threat pass-catcher with breakaway speed to help create openings over the middle of the field, something that Burden excelled at in college. Without the rookie deep-ball specialist, it could make it hard for tight ends Cole Kmet and rookie Colston Loveland to have consistent separation from opposing linebackers and safeties over-the-middle on passing plays.

It isn’t just Johnson or other pass-catchers in Chicago’s offense who could suffer from Luther Burden’s absence and delayed development, as Williams’ quarterback development could be significantly hindered also. The Bears’ first overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft is coming off a rookie campaign where he a league-leading 68 times, which was partially due to his inability to get the ball out quicker. With Burden apart of the offense at the slot position, it would give the second-year quarterback another target who can use his speed to get open immediately to allow his signal-caller a chance to get the ball in the face of oncoming pass-rush pressure.

 Luther Burden III could face negative backlash from the Bears’ fanbase due to prior holdout experience

From an off-field standpoint, a potential rookie-contract holdout would be bad for Luther Burden III from a character and future potential standpoint. Historically, contract holdouts for offensive players have not been a good omen, especially for Bears’ offensive players. Former first round selections made by the Bears including Curtis Enis, Cade McNown, David Terrell, and Cedric Benson, all held out while later ending up to becoming infamous draft busts. Burden, even though a second-round selection, will likely be expected to perform like a top first-round selection, as many draft analysts saw him as a first-round talent.

When it comes to why Luther Burden III was selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, there were character concerns and a drop in production from 2023 to 2024 led to him falling out of the first round. A holdout would only amplify those concerns and likely lead to the Bears’ fanbase having negative beliefs about the rookie, even before he gets on the field. Despite there being a chance of other 2025 draft selections selected by the Bears being unsigned when training camp starts, Burden will have the most attention paid to him because of the position he plays.

The length of a potential holdout would increase the potential dissatisfaction from Bears’ fans against Luther Burden III, given what happened with other hold outs in the past. Enis, McNown, Benson, and Terrell, each saw their production intensely scrutinized by disgruntled fans during their short careers in Chicago. Any dropped pass or route that is ran incorrectly by Burden would lead to immense and immediate criticism from avid Bears’ fans.

If there are multiple unsigned rookies by the time players begin to start reporting to training camp in the next two weeks, it will be a poor look on Chicago’s front office and embattled general manager Ryan Poles. However, if Luther Burden III is the lone rookie unsigned by the time practice starts in late-July, any issues with development or productive will be blamed on him. Burden and the Bears can’t afford a costly holdout as the wide receiver’s role in Chicago’s offense is too significant given the new coaching staff in 2025.

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With rookie Colston Loveland joining the team, fellow tight end Cole Kmet has been a popular trade candidate in numerous offseason lists. However, the Chicago Bears don’t seem poised to trade Kmet away anytime soon.

Things can always change, perhaps Loveland is everything the Bears expected and more. But new head coach Ben Johnson has been adamant that Kmet will still have a key role in the offense. As Johnson takes over the Bears, he’s looking to accumulate as much talent as possible, and keeping Kmet gives Chicago some intriguing 12 personnel possibilities.

When training camp begins, fans will begin to see how Johnson will use Loveland and Kmet together. They should get used to it, as Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic doesn’t see Kmet being traded anytime soon.

“Quick media literacy refresher, because I was confused to see the social media algorithm churning out Kmet trade chatter. It’s not uncommon — especially this time of year — to speculate about a player who “could” be a trade candidate. That generally doesn’t mean anything,” Fishbain wrote. “If a writer is surveying NFL rosters looking for potential trade chips and they come to the Bears, they might look at the Colston Loveland draft pick and think, “Oh, maybe they could move Kmet.”

“But that’s all that would be, so let’s all be careful to discern between “yeah, this player would make sense as a trade chip” and “this team wants to move this player.”

“It’s the summer, everyone’s looking for content, and the Bears’ depth chart might look top-heavy at tight end,” Fishbain concluded. “That’s all there is to it. Does that mean Kmet will never be traded? No, but I’m not sure why the Bears would at this point.”

Why Cole Kmet has generated trade buzz

As soon as the Bears turned in Loveland’s name with the No. 10 overall pick, fans and analysts began drafting Kmet trade packages. Chicago didn’t take the tight end just to keep him off the field. On the surface, it’s fair to assume the Bears are moving on from Kmet just based on Loveland’s arrival.

During his three years at Michigan, the tight end caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 and then ended his time with the Wolverines a Second-team All-American. Loveland set new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) in 2024.

He certainly caught Chicago’s eye, who selected the tight end specifically for his pass catching ability. The Bears were heavily connected to fellow top tight end prospect Tyler Warren leading up to the draft. But Loveland’s work in open space and ability to make defenders miss made him to first player off the board at his position.

Despite missing most of the offseason recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Loveland will still have a major role in Johnson’s offense. Over time, the tight end is expected to become one of quarterback Caleb Williams’ top targets.

Chicago Bears still counting on Kmet

The Bears made their Loveland selection with Kmet in mind, rather than in spite of it. Johnson will need to find a way to make the pieces work, but Chicago is expecting both of their tight ends to shine in the new-look offense.

Kmet had a down year in 2024, catching just 47 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns. However, everyone in the Bears’ offense struggled during their latest campaign. In 2023, Kmet set new career-highs with 73 receptions and 719 yards, adding six touchdowns. A year prior, he made a career-best seven touchdown grabs alongside 50 total receptions and 544 yards.

Loveland will be a playmaker in the middle of the field, looking to create mismatches against linebackers. Kmet will be the in-line blocker and crucial in moving the chains in the short-to-intermediate game. Furthermore, with Keenan Allen and his team-leading seven touchdowns leaving the franchise, Kmet will be asked to step up even more in the red zone.

If everything goes to plan, Loveland will be a star in Chicago. But Johnson is planning on bringing a dynamic offense to the Windy City, and that still includes Kmet playing for the Bears.

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The Chicago Bears are obviously excited about rookie Colston Loveland after using the No. 10 overall pick on him. However, as the tight end recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, Bears fans have been unable to see Loveland in action.

Head coach Ben Johnson is confident he’ll make his debut sooner rather than later in training camp. However, Loveland has missed significant time forming chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams. Furthermore, with Johnson introducing a dynamic scheme, it may take time for Loveland to understand each phase fluidly.

The Bears have high hopes for Loveland in 2025 and beyond. However, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report has sent a warning to Chicago that the tight end could be in line to disappoint.

“A combination of an offseason surgery coupled with limited reps during the process leading up to the 2025 season, as well as a proven veteran already at the position, should force this year’s 10th overall pick, tight end Colston Loveland, into a slow start,” Sobleski wrote.

“The Bears can fall back on veteran Cole Kmet, while the coaching staff finds ways to eventually implement Loveland into the gameplan. Once up to speed, Chicago will add this year’s top tight end prospect. It’s going to take time, though,” he concluded.

Colston Loveland acclimation period 

With Brock Bowers breaking out for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, every team is looking for the next tight end sensation. Loveland going No. 10 overall only amplified those hopes amongst Bears fans. But Bowers was an outlier, as it usually takes time for rookie tight ends to get acclimated into the offense.

Of course, that’s not to say that’s a pre-requisite to going in the first-round. With Johnson was with the Detroit Lions, he helped Sam LaPorta make the Pro Bowl as a rookie, as the tight end caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. However, a lot is going to have to go right for Loveland to hit those numbers.

Still, the Bears took him over fellow touted prospect Tyler Warren mainly due to his pass catching ability. During his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. Once he does step on the field, the tight end will undoubtedly have a high-powered role in Johnson’s passing attack.

But after so much lay off, will Loveland really be up to speed come Week 1? It may take some time for the tight end to reach his ceiling, which will be a difficult waiting period for a player selected at No. 10.

Chicago Bears tight end plans 

Alongside getting over his shoulder injury, Loveland will have to contend with the receiving room Chicago has cultivated. The Bears now have a trio of impressive wide receivers in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. But the player Loveland will need to keep his eye out for is fellow tight end Cole Kmet.

Kmet was on the roster when Chicago made their selection, meaning Johnson has already thought of an offense featuring two tight ends. Loveland’s arrival hasn’t stopped the head coach from hyping up the veteran tight end. While Kmet has found his name in trade rumors, as long as he is in the Windy City, Johnson plans to use him as much as possible.

The 2024 season may have been a down year, but Kmet has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his Bears career. In 2023, he set new career-highs with 73 receptions and 719 yards. A year prior, Kmet set his new career-best with seven touchdown grabs.

Loveland needs to get back onto the field before Johnson can finalize his tight end plans. But with the rookie and Kmet in the fold, the Bears should be expected to use plenty of 12 personnel in 2025.

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The Chicago Bears should be one of the more exciting teams to watch when the season begins, with the changes they made over the offseason helping to push them over the edge. The most pressing need for the Bears was finding a head coach to man the helm and be the offensive mentor that Quarterback Caleb Williams needs to take his game to the next level.

The Bears found that mentor in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was the hottest name on the market, and who should help turn things around and make the Bears a contender for the NFC North. The Bears’ chances to win the North and potentially go deep in the playoffs also got a boost when they added to the trenches, which, along with a few additions on defense, and the NFL Draft, helped bring the Bears some recognition for some of their moves.

The Chicago Bears rank highly for their offseason maneuvering

The Bears were busy this offseason, securing their new head coach, and adding offensive weapons like the addition of tight end Colston Loveland, who could have a nice rookie season and take away playing time from his fellow tight end Cole Kmet. The moves the Bears made didn’t go unnoticed, as Josh Edwards of CBS Sports ranked the Bears as having the best offseason, beating out the New England Patriots, who were also looking for a head coach and were in the running for Johnson.

Edwards on the Bears’ offseason via CBS Sports:

“The changes for the Bears began at the top with incoming head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson was regarded as one of the game’s most forward-thinking, dynamic offensive play-callers in his former role with the Lions, and Chicago is hoping that success follows him within the division. The roster supplementation did not end there, however. 

The NFC North franchise ate its vegetables by upgrading the offensive line through the acquisitions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson. The defensive line’s floor should be elevated with Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo joining the cause. Pass-catchers Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland were added to the draft. 

The biggest red flag is that Chicago was atop this list last year as well.”

The Bears should be exciting this season

The Bears should be better this season than last, when they went 5-12 and were tied for the third-worst record in the league alongside the Carolina Panthers, the New Orleans Saints, and the New York Jets. Of those teams, the Bears have the best chance of having a winning or above .500 record.

The Bears kick next season off with a divisional matchup when they welcome the Minnesota Vikings to Soldier Field for the first Monday Night Football game of the season. The Bears follow that up by traveling to Detroit to play the reigning NFC North Champions, the Lions. If the Bears and their new additions can hold their own against strong teams and divisional foes such as the Vikings and Lions, then the Bears could set themselves up early to get a decent lead in the North.

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Chicago Bears fans have been unable to see first-round pick Colston Loveland in action as he makes his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. However, once the tight end does return to the field, the Bears will have a dynamic threat entering their passing attack.

Taken with the No. 10 overall pick, Loveland was the first tight end off the board. While the Bears had been heavily connected to Tyler Warren, Chicago preferred what Loveland provides as a passer. After helping Sam LaPorta reach the NFL’s upper echelon with the Detroit Lions, hew head coach Ben Johnson is expected to do the same with Loveland.

Without any NFL experience under his belt, it’s difficult to say what the tight end’s immediate rookie impact will be, especially with so much time away from the field. However, a former Big Ten head coach explained exactly what it’s like facing off against Loveland, via Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated. Chicago’s NFC North opponents must now be on red alert.

“He is a very productive, athletic tight end that can play in the run game and be a passing threat,” the coach said. “Excellent hands and a true threat down the middle of the field. I expect them to use him on all three downs and be a potential outstanding red zone threat.”

Colston Loveland completely changes Chicago Bears offense 

The Bears already had Cole Kmet on their roster, making the selection of Loveland a bit puzzling. However, Kmet is a superior in-line blocker and will make a difference in the short to intermediate game as well as the red zone. Loveland will be a crafty tool all over the field, looking to make big plays in space whenever the ball is in his hands.

Over his three years at Michigan, the tight end caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before being named a Second-team All-American in 2024. That season, Loveland set new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (11).

Chicago a trio of explosive receivers in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. Opposing teams will have a difficult time shutting all three down as well as Loveland. Furthermore, Kmet has made 258 receptions for 2,592 yards and 19 touchdowns over his five-year career. The Bears could have the best 12 personnel in the entire league.

Loveland will need to return to the field and prove why he went No. 10 overall before anything is set in stone. However, as Johnson’s first draft pick as Bears head coach, there are already lofty expectations on the tight end’s shoulders.

Sam LaPorta comparisons 

Throughout the pre-draft process, Loveland was consistently compared to LaPorta. He was the tight end’s pro comparison in Lance Zierlein of NFL.com’s prospect profile. And with Loveland actually playing under Johnson now, the comparisons to LaPorta only got louder.

However, if Loveland is going to reach the Lions star’s status, he’s going to need an explosive rookie season. During LaPorta’s first season in the NFL, he was named to the Pro Bowl after catching 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

While he didn’t match that output in 2024, LaPorta still made 60 receptions for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. For reference, he would’ve tied for the team lead in touchdown grabs while ranking third in catches and yardage.

Johnson is planning to introduce a level of offense that has never been seen in Chicago. The introduction of Loveland will play a major role in getting the Bears back on track when passing the table. Chicago’s only hurdles left are getting the tight end back on the field and acclimated into the offense.

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With training camp not even underway, the Chicago Bears will have plenty of time to re-tool their roster. New head coach Ben Johnson is looking to build the franchise’s new foundation in his first year at the helm.

The Bears made a major statement when they selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick. Being Johnson’s first draft selection as a head coach, it’s clear to see Loveland will have a massive role in the offense. But that has put fellow tight end Cole Kmet’s status into question.

While Johnson has been adamant that Kmet is still a crucial part of the gameplan, not everyone is convinced. Instead, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports argues that the Pittsburgh Steelers should target Kmet in a trade to bolster their Aaron Rodgers-led offense.

“The Bears all but proclaimed a new face of their tight end position by spending a first-round pick on Colston Loveland this year, and while Kmet still has the benefit of legitimate NFL experience, it’s very possible new coach Ben Johnson will lean all the way into Loveland out of the gate,” Benjamin wrote.

“In that case, perhaps the Steelers would be interested in pairing Kmet with Pat Freiermuth, especially if the price is lower than, say, acquiring Kyle Pitts from the Atlanta Falcons. Kmet logged at least 50 catches in three straight seasons from 2021-2023,” he concluded.

Colston Loveland joins Chicago Bears 

Chicago was targeting the best playmaker on their board at No. 10. That ended up being Loveland. While it may make things trickier for Kmet, there’s no doubting that the rookie tight end gives quarterback Caleb Williams a potent weapon to target.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 and was named Second-team All-American in 2024 after setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).

The Bears valued Loveland’s ability in the passing game. There aren’t many tight ends who can move in open space like the rookie. After helping Sam LaPorta reach new heights with the Detroit Lions, Loveland will now become Johnson’s new project tight end. If his rookie year looks anything like LaPorta’s, the Bears will have found a gem.

Fans haven’t been able to see Loveland in action during the offseason due to his shoulder surgery. But based on where he went in the draft, the Bears have high expectations when he does return to the field.

How Kmet still fits offense 

Despite Loveland being a top 10 pick, Kmet still offers plenty of potential to Chicago’s offense. His resume thus far is why the Steelers or any team would be calling the Bears in the first place. Assuming he remains on the roster, Johnson will dial up plays with both Loveland and Kmet on the field.

The 2024 season was a down year for Kmet – 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns – which is why his name has come up frequently in trade talks. However, everyone in Chicago struggled on offense in 2024. Kmet earned a $50 million extension just one year prior, showing how valuable at least general manager Ryan Poles deems him to be.

That season, the tight end set new career-highs with 73 receptions and 719 yards. A year prior, Kmet set a new career-best with seven touchdown receptions. Over his 84 games total in Chicago, Kmet has caught 258 passes for 2,592 yards and 19 touchdowns.

What Kmet and Loveland’s exact roles will be will be amongst the biggest training camp storylines. Perhaps the Bears would consider a trade, but it seems likely Johnson made the Loveland pick with Kmet in mind.

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Since being selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Chicago Bears fans have yet to see tight end Colston Loveland in action. The longer he is away from the field, it becomes increasingly unlikely Loveland makes an immediate rookie impact.

The tight end is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. He has been able to lift and has worn a red non-contact jersey on the field. But Loveland has yet to fully practice. Head coach Ben Johnson even said he was unsure if the rookie would be a “full go” at the start of training camp, via Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.

With Loveland out, veteran Cole Kmet has been able to soak in all the spotlight. Moving into training camp, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report ultimately expects Kmet to win the Bears starting tight end competition.

Factor in that Loveland is still working his way back from an injury that has cost him valuable camp reps, and it’s hard to see him usurping the proven veteran and becoming a starter until 2026 at the earliest,”  he concluded.

Colston Loveland stuck in starting gate

While there will technically be a starter and a backup, Johnson will run plenty of 12 personnel in Chicago. That was part of the appeal in drafting Loveland with Kmet already on the roster. But in non-two tight end sets, it’ll be difficult for Loveland to get up to speed by Week 1.

The Bears still expect him to return during training camp, even if it isn’t within the first few practices. However, Johnson is employing a dynamic offensive scheme in Chicago. There are things Loveland has to learn that can only happen in a live practice. Kmet is a veteran and has been soaking up what Johnson has to offer. It makes sense he would be the on-paper starter entering the season.

Still, Chicago didn’t select Loveland at No. 10 for him to sit on the bench. Over his three years at Michigan, the tight end caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before being named Second-team All-American to end his Wolverines career, setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).

The Bears expect Loveland to someday soon be a stalwart in the passing attack. That ascension just might not come as early as Week 1.

Cole Kmet lands major Chicago Bears opportunity 

Kmet has already proven himself to general manager Ryan Poles, landing a four-year, $50 million extension in 2023. But now, he must show he is a strong fit in Johnson’s offense. Looking at the 2024 season alone, you wouldn’t think so, as Kmet caught 47 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns.

But everyone on the Bears offense had a down year in 2024. It’s the entire reason Johnson was hired in the first place. The slate has now been wiped clean, and Kmet will once again be given an opportunity to shine in the offensive scheme, even with Loveland in town.

During the 2023 season, Kmet set new career-highs with 73 receptions and 719 yards. A year prior, the tight end caught a career-best seven touchdowns. With Keenan Allen on his way out of the Windy City, it wouldn’t be surprising to see any of his team-leading seven touchdowns from 2024 go Kmet’s way.

Ultimately, the tight end must prove to have a strong connection with quarterback Caleb Williams. Furthermore, Johnson must find a way to get him the ball in a sea of potent pass catchers. But the head coach has been adamant Kmet will have a key role in the offense. Training camp will give him the opportunity to retain his starting role.

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The final week of the Chicago Bears OTAs is currently underway. The Bears’ coaching staff made the second week of practices mandatory for rookies and optional for veterans. However, second-year players such as Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze have continued to attend these practices. There has been one notable rookie who has yet to take the field: first-round draft pick Colston Loveland.

Loveland had shoulder surgery back in January and is still recovering. During Tuesday’s media session, the tight end gave an update on his injury status.

Colston Loveland expects to be cleared for Chicago Bears training camp

While head coach Ben Johnson would not give a timeline, Loveland told the media he expects to be ready to go when training camp begins in mid-July.

Colston Loveland's rehab update and on if he'll be ready to go by the start of training camp: pic.twitter.com/nGlzc6i0Sa

— Bears on CHSN (@CHSN_Bears) June 10, 2025

Loveland said: “That’s the plan, man. Working and working every day to get there.” and that the last hurdle is “Getting the strength back and mobility, just continuing each day to work”.

The Bears’ rookie also confirmed he has been cleared to throw the ball and cleared to run routes as well. Loveland told the media that he communicates with the training staff and coaching staff to see what he is allowed to do until he is fully cleared.

Loveland is missing valuable time and reps with the team. Hopefully, he can get fully cleared for training camp. These reps are very important as he needs to get chemistry going with quarterback Caleb Williams as soon as possible.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson also discussed the positives he has seen regarding Loveland and how he has already impressed the coaching staff.

Colston Loveland has already impressed the Chicago Bears coaching staff

The Bears head coach revealed to the media how much the rookie tight end has impressed him and his staff.

Ben Johnson and the Bears coaching staff are already impressed with Colston Loveland pic.twitter.com/Y15G5Wi46R

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 10, 2025

Via Marquee Sports Network:

”He’s very professional. He takes everything seriously. I think he’s going to fit in really well once we get him to go full speed. I know coach Dray is really impressed with the types of questions he asks at such a young age.”

It’s really good to see that Loveland is already putting a huge impression on the entire Bears coaching staff before he has been cleared for full contact.

Hopefully, the Bears’ tight end gets cleared for when rookies report to training camp on July 16th.

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Chicago Bears fans have yet to see No. 10 pick Colston Loveland in action as he makes his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. But with minicamp now in the rearview mirror, Loveland’s return is getting closer.

Clearly the Bears didn’t think Loveland’s shoulder injury would be a long-term issue based on his draft position. However, head coach Ben Johnson is implementing a brand new offseason scheme. While Loveland is surely taking in information, he needs to be on the field to get a true understanding of Johnson’s expectations.

There is still no firm timetable on when Loveland will be cleared. But fans could see the tight end back on the gridiron sooner rather than later, via Adam Jahns of The Athletic.

“Rookie tight end Colston Loveland could be getting closer to returning after shoulder surgery,” Jahns wrote. “He was spotted in uniform, accompanying staff members to other practice fields at Halas Hall while the rest of the team practiced on Fields 1 and 2.”

Johnson echoed the sentiment when asked about Loveland’s return.

“I just knew the springtime here, he wasn’t going to be available,” Johnson said, “and at some point here in camp, we should get the green light.”

Colston Loveland gives Chicago Bears new dynamic 

Chicago made Loveland the first tight end off the board in 2025. He was also the first draft pick in Johnson’s Bears tenure. While the tight end will need to prove himself once cleared from injury, Chicago has high hopes for the first-rounder during his rookie season and beyond.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before setting career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) as a senior, adding 582 yards. Loveland was named Second-team All-American in 2024.

Chicago was enamored by the tight end’s ability to make plays in space. They felt he was the best pass catcher amongst the position in the 2025 class. As Johnson builds the foundation of his offense, Loveland gives the head coach a versatile weapon to mold.

Detroit Lions fans watched Johnson turn Sam LaPorta into an elite tight end during his time as offensive coordinator. Bears fans are expecting the same from Loveland. By training camp, Chicago at least wants to have an understanding of how to exactly use the tight end in year one.

Not the only tight end in the Windy City 

Loveland’s selection at No. 10 was a bit shocking at the time. Largely due to the fact that Cole Kmet and his $50 million contract are still on the roster. However, Johnson has remained confident throughout the offseason that both Loveland and Kmet will make an impact on the offense.

Kmet is coming off of a down year, catching 47 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns. However, everyone in Chicago’s offense had a down year in 2024. A season prior, Kmet set new career-highs in receptions (73) and yardage (719). In 2023, he grabbed a career-best eight touchdowns. One season isn’t going to immediately sour the Bears on the tight end.

At this stage of their careers, Kmet is a better blocker than Loveland. He’ll be used more in-line while Loveland operates as the move tight end. But Kmet can still make a difference in the short and intermediate game. Furthermore, with Keenan Allen and his team-leading seven touchdowns leaving the team, it wouldn’t be shocking to see those red zone looks go Kmet’s way.

Johnson will need to find a way to make it all work, but he wouldn’t have selected Loveland if he wasn’t confident in the plan. All that needs to happen now is the tight end getting past his shoulder injury and starting to catch passes from Caleb Williams.

The post Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland takes step towards injury return appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has consistently proven himself to be a capable starting tight end in the NFL. Since being drafted in 2020, Kmet has been a key figure in the Bears’ offense, both in the passing game and with blocking.

Kmet didn’t have as good of a 2024 season as everyone expected. However, that was due to the previous coaching staff being unable to utilize the five-year tight end.  Kmet only had 47 receptions for 474 yards and only 4 touchdowns, down from the last two seasons.

Even though Kmet has been a solid starter for the Bears, the team decided to make a surprising move and draft former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Head coach Ben Johnson clearly has a vision for the future of the team and thinks Loveland and Kmet could make a dominant 12-personnel duo in the NFL.

In Tuesday’s press conference following the first practice of mandatory mini-camp, Kmet spoke with the media. Kmet opened up to the media about how he felt when the Bears drafted Loveland, and also gave massive praise to his head coach.

The Chicago Bears’ tight end has admitted he was “taken aback” by the Colston Loveland pick

Kmet admitted to the media that he was “taken aback a little bit” when the Bears decided to draft Loveland. However, Kmet went on to explain how the new head coach of the Bears immediately called to explain his reasoning for selecting Loveland, as well as explaining his vision for the future. The five-year tight end gave Johnson massive praise for calling him immediately after drafting Loveland.

Cole Kmet says Ben Johnson called him right away and explained the decision to draft Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall. #Bears

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) June 3, 2025

Via Dave on X:

“At first you are taken back a little bit. But Ben was awesome about it, in terms of calling right away and kind of explaining the decision. From there your’e on board with it and you understand their vision.

Cole Kmet said he was "taken back a little bit," when the Bears took Loveland at No. 10. pic.twitter.com/w1PVUI7LYk

— Dave (@dave_bfr) June 3, 2025

Kmet also mentioned that there will be times when he and Loveland will not only complement each other, but also there will be times when it can get very competitive.

Cole Kmet has a major goal in mind for himself and Colston Loveland

Kmet also told the media about the goal he has set for himself and Loveland: that is to be “the best 12-personnel tandem in the NFL”.

Cole Kmet on pairing up with rookie Colston Loveland:

“The goal is to be the best ‘12’ tandem in the league.” pic.twitter.com/9taJPlkzP9

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) June 3, 2025

Bears head coach Ben Johnson ran a lot of plays in 12-personnel with two tight ends during his tenure as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions and was very successful at doing it. It has been expected that the Bears offense will run more two tight end sets during the 2025 season.

Loveland is an excellent pass catcher, Kmet has been very well with blocking, and this could lead to a lot of explosive plays in the near future. It remains to be seen who will be the Bears’ top tight end for the 2025 season.

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After seeing the Chicago Bears use the No. 10 pick on him, fans have been patiently waiting to see Colston Loveland in action. However, offseason shoulder surgery has kept him off the field during OTAs.

Still, Loveland is expected to be a major part of the offseason. The Bears made him the first tight end selected in the draft for a reason. Fans and analysts have been salivating over the idea of Loveland in head coach Ben Johnson’s offense.

Now, that hype is translating to jersey sales. Despite not being able to show his true potential just yet, Loveland ranks eighth in rookie jersey sales thus far, via Cllct.

NFL rookie jersey sale leaders

1. Shedeur Sanders
2. Travis Hunter

See the full top 10 here https://t.co/2T9EcNDunr pic.twitter.com/8kaoeHOJ40

— cllct (@cllctMedia) May 29, 2025

Chicago Bears Colston Loveland drawing plenty of hype 

The Bears shocked many around the NFL when Loveland’s name was called at No. 10. Especially since Tyler Warren, who many considered to be the consensus best tight end option, was still on the board. But Johnson has a clear offensive plan in place and preferred what Loveland brings to the table.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won the national championship with the Wolverines in 2023 before being named a Second-team All-American in 2024.

The Bears already had Cole Kmet on their roster. He will play more of an in-line role while contributing heavily in both the short game and in the red zone. Loveland will fill a more intermediate role, looking to make plays in space. Overall, Johnson has surely drawn up schemes to incorporate both into the offense.

Fans will continue patiently waiting for Loveland to make his debut. The Bears know it’s more important to have him healthy for the regular season. But eventually, Chicago wants to see exactly what they have in their No. 10 overall pick.

Ben Johnson’s tight end preference 

Throughout the draft process, Loveland was consistently compared to Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, including by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. Based on his draft capital, it seems likely Loveland will fill a similar role in Chicago.

During the 2024 season, LaPorta caught 60 passes for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. He was even better as a rookie, catching 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. Overall, Johnson helped elevate LaPorta into one of the best tight ends in the league.

Once Loveland returns to practice, the trickiest obstacle for Johnson will be finding a way to put all the pieces together. Alongside Kmet, the Bears have a trio of versatile receivers in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. Johnson must find a way to keep them all involved in the offense.

Still, Loveland’s arrival should lead to plenty of big plays for Caleb Williams in the offense. When the tight end runs onto Soldier Field, he’s sure to see plenty of fans donning his jersey.

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After the Chicago Bears used the No. 10 overall pick on him, fans have been patiently waiting to see tight end Colston Loveland in action. But as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, Loveland has been absent from OTAs.

In his place, Cole Kmet has been able to show what he brings to the table. While he has been overshadowed by Loveland throughout the offseason, Kmet has been a productive tight end during his time in Chicago. Head coach Ben Johnson is certainly thinking of ways to get Loveland and Kmet on the field at the same time.

Kmet’s play at OTAs has caught the eye of many, including Clay Harbor of the Chicago Sports Network. If his offseason success translate to the regular season, Harbor sees Kmet having an explosive year in Johnson’s debut.

“Cole Kmet had an excellent day out there, he caught some passes in the middle,” Harbor said. “They motioned him a lot, he looked good in the blocking game, he was lining up outside, he was lining up in the slot, he was lining up at tight end, he was catching the ball over the place. Ben Johnson is going to be salivating because he knows he’s going to be able to play with defenses with that 12 personnel, splitting these guys out into different spots.”

Cole Kmet had a nice day at OTA’s. He moved around a lot and looked comfortable doing it.

He’s showing he can be versatile which bodes well for his usage with Colston Loveland come season. #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/Vr0fUp3k8N

— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) May 29, 2025

Ben Johnson completely changes passing offense

After seeing the Bears finished their 2024 season ranked second-to-last in passing, averaging 181.5 yards per game, Johnson knew things needed to change upon his arrival. Adding 12 personnel concepts into the gameplan should keep opposing defenses on their toes.

Chicago selected Loveland mainly due to his pass catching ability. He made 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns over his three years at Michigan. Johnson will scheme up ways to get him open in space, allowing the tight end to use his athleticism to blow by tight ends. Overall, Loveland should be an intermediate option for quarterback Caleb Williams.

Kmet offers more blocking chops, meaning he will be the in-line tight end. However, he can still make a difference in the pass game in short to intermediate routes. With Keenan Allen and his team-leading seven touchdowns leaving the franchise, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Kmet get those looks in the red zone.

Ultimately, Johnson must find a way to put all the puzzle pieces together. But if the gameplan pans out how he is expecting, Loveland Kmet could be one of the scariest tight end duos in the league.

Don’t forget about Cole Kmet 

Kmet had a down year in 2024, catching 47 passes for 474 yards and four touchdowns. But everyone struggled in Chicago’s passing game. His two seasons prior show a tight end who should be a valuable resource for the Bears.

In 2022, Kmet caught 50 passes for 544 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. A year later, he set career-highs in both receptions (73) and yardage (719) while scoring six touchdowns. Kmet was playing with a different quarterback, but he still proved to be a playmaker and trusted safety blanket whenever called upon.

It’ll be easy for Kmet to be lost in the shuffle just looking at the depth chart. Alongside Loveland, the Bears also have wide receivers DJ Moore, Luther Burden and Rome Odunze in the fold. It may be difficult for Kmet to shine in the box score on a weekly basis.

Still, Johnson is planning on bringing a dynamic offense to Chicago, and he has been adamant that Kmet will still be in a featured role. When Loveland returns, things will get a bit trickier. But as long as the spotlight is on him, Kmet is proving he can handle the pressure.

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Every summer there are a handful of players across the league who are shocked by the call to report to the coach’s office with their playbook, and one Chicago Bears veteran may be on high alert thanks to No. 10 overall pick Colston Loveland’s arrival.

Loveland arrives in Halas Hall with lofty expectations both inside and outside the building, potentially as quarterback Caleb Williams‘ next favorite target to emerge this season.

Adding Loveland in the first round, according to Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, could put tight end Durham Smythe on the clock.

“Unfortunately for Smythe, the Bears already employ Cole Kmet and just used a top-10 pick on  Colston Loveland. Smythe now finds himself as TE3 on Chicago’s depth chart, at best, and the Bears could save $1 million by releasing him.”

Would releasing Durham Smythe make sense for the Chicago Bears?

Pairing quarterback Caleb Williams with Loveland has understandably drawn comparisons to head coach Ben Johnson’s impact on molding Sam LaPorta into a Pro Bowl tight end with the Detroit Lions.

Even though Loveland arrives having caught 177 passes for 1,466 yards with 11 touchdowns during his collegiate career at the University of Michigan, his blocking ability leaves much to be desired.

According to Pro Football Focus, Smythe posted a 53.8 pass protection grade, and a 52.3 run-blocking grade last season, so, pressure might be on for the 29-year-old to have a strong training camp and preseason.

However, even with those concerns about Loveland’s blocking ability, if the dynamic 6-foot-5 and 245-pound tight end explodes out of the chute with a strong training camp, Smythe’s days in Chicago could very well be numbered.

Given that Loveland and Cole Kmet appear entrenched at the top of the Bears’ depth chart, just how much Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles value keeping a third tight end juxtaposed against perhaps scooping one off the waiver wire or investing Smythe’s $1 million cap number elsewhere may determine if he can escape being summoned to the head coach’s office this August.

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The Chicago Bears weren’t able to see first-round pick Colston Loveland at rookie minicamp as he continues to battle through his shoulder injury. However, both Loveland and the Bears have big plans for the tight end’s first season in the NFL.

Selected with the No. 10 overall pick, Loveland has been heralded for his supreme pass catching ability. His playmaking ability is why Chicago made him the first tight end off the board over Tyler Warren. But Loveland knows he is more of a well rounded player than analysts give him credit for.

It is undoubtable that head coach Ben Johnson will be scheming plays to get Loveland open in space. But even if he isn’t catching the ball, he wants to be a valuable resource in the blocking game or wherever is needed. Overall, Loveland wants to serve a multi-faceted role as a rookie and beyond, via the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score.

“I think I can do it all,” Loveland said.

“Obviously, got a lot of room for improvement in all parts of my game. I guess you can take it however you want to take it when people say it’s a receiver in a tight end’s body. I think my route running, separation is very good, but needs improvement for sure. I think in the run game, just consistency,” Loveland continued. “There’s good stuff on tape. But we’re at the higher level now, so things are turned up a notch. So, I just got to continue to work on my craft, get better and lean on the vets around me to get better.”

Chicago Bears have big plans for Colston Loveland 

Veteran Cole Kmet is expected to handle most of the short-game and in-line blocking work. However, being able to fill numerous different roles is the quickest way to get on the field. Furthermore, both Loveland and Kmet being versatile in what they do on a weekly basis will only make it more difficult for defensive coordinators to gameplan.

Still, the Bears took Loveland at No. 10 because of his playmaking ability. First and foremost, they want him to catch passes and become a crucial weapon for quarterback Caleb Williams. Ben Johnson helped Sam LaPorta join the NFL elites during his time with the Detroit Lions. Now it’s Loveland’s turn to learn under the newly minted head coach.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023, setting a new career-high with 649 yards. Then, Loveland was named Second-team All-American to end his Wolverines career, setting new career-bests in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).

The Bears are going to be cautious with Loveland as he recovers from shoulder surgery. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him not take full contact into training camp. However, Chicago is confident that Loveland will be ready once the games start to count.

By then, Johnson will need to have a clear plan in place for Loveland and the entire offense. Alongside Kmet, the Bears have DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden to feed. On paper it is one of the most exciting passing games in the league. But the Bears must prove all of the pieces fit together perfectly.

Once he returns to the field, Loveland will play a major part in that theoretical offensive success. He is ready for whatever role is thrown at him, passing or blocking. Ultimately, Loveland just wants to the next great Bears tight end and show the NFL what he truly has to offer.

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New Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland is entering the NFL with lofty expectations on his shoulders. Selected with the No. 10 overall pick, Loveland is expected to become a focal point of the Bears offense sooner rather than later.

The NFL watched as rookie tight end Brock Bowers became a star with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. Now, Loveland is expected to become the next young star at the position. Playing for the Bears specifically, the franchise has a solid lineage of strong tight end play.

Among the noteworthy tight ends to play for the Bears is Greg Olsen. He spent four years with the team, gaining nearly 2,000 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns. Now, he’s prepared to watch Loveland become the next great Chicago tight end. Great might be an understatement, as Olsen thinks Loveland has what it takes to join the NFL’s elites, via 89 with Steve Smith Sr. and Jordan Palmer.

“I think Loveland is the modern-day tight end,” Olsen said. “There’s guys that you have to scheme open and then there’s guys that get themselves open. There’s not a lot of those guys—those are the Kelces and the Kittles and the real special guys,” Olsen said. “So, I think Loveland is that guy.”

Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson get versatile weapon in Colston Loveland

With Ben Johnson taking over at head coach, the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator is looking for playmakers all over his roster. That’s what led to the selection of Loveland, his playmaking ability and supreme levels of athleticism. While Olsen says Loveland doesn’t need plays to be schemed for him to get open, Johnson will surely be looking to manufacture ways to get the ball in the tight end’s hands.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) in 2024. Loveland ended his time with the Wolverines as a Second-team All-American nominee.

With the Bears already having Cole Kmet on the roster, the selection of Loveland was a bit of shock. However, their skill sets are a complimentary match. Kmet will operate as the in line blocker, and as a trusted safety blanket for Caleb Williams in the short game and red zone. Loveland will be more of an intermediate option, looking to use his speed to get past linebackers in the middle of the field. Ultimately the roles could be interchanged in theory. But Chicago brought Loveland in to make big plays in the pass game.

Olsen’s rookie season with the Bears was a bit underwhelming, making 39 grabs for 391 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t until two seasons later that he broke 600 yards and caught eight touchdowns. Olsen had a strong career with the Bears, but Chicago is hoping Loveland’s provides even more fireworks.

If Loveland lives up to Olsen’s expectations, then no one will question Chicago’s decision with the No. 10 overall pick. But as soon as he recovers from his shoulder injury, the tight end must make a quick acclimation from the NFL and prove to be a strong fit in Johnson’s new-look offense.

The post Colston Loveland earns Travis Kelce comparison from Chicago Bears legend appeared first on ChiCitySports.

It only took three practices of Chicago Bears rookie minicamp for tight end Colston Loveland to feel at home.

After thriving at the University of Michigan, and surging up the Bears’ draft board before ultimately being chosen by Chicago with the No. 10 overall pick of April’s 2025 NFL Draft, Loveland says that he’s already noticing plenty of similarities between head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme and what he ran in college.

“Playing there helped a ton,” Loveland told reporters during the Bears’ rookie minicamp. “It’s a pro-style offense. Always two tight ends on the field. A lot of the terminology and everything kind of flows right into it. We use the same stuff. It has helped me, for sure. We’ve got a long way to go though. It’s a new offense and I’m just excited to get in it and get right.”

In Ann Arbor, Loveland thrived in an offense that was built around a power-running scheme and many pro-style traits, which could mirror what he’s walking into in the NFL given Johnson’s track record for funneling the passing game through the tight end position and leaning heavily on the ground attack.

If the Loveland is going to make the kind of instant impact on the offense, and quarterback Caleb Williams making major strides off his rookie season, Johnson believes that the foundation is going to be set in mental reps and the meeting room this spring just as much as any practice snap the rookie tight end plays in practice.

“It’s more mental,” Johnson told reporters. “And we’re going to take full opportunity with the time we have with him, call it six weeks in terms of getting him up to speed with not only what the veterans know mentally but, how much can we walk through with him on the side to speed up the learning process.”

Chicago Bears’ Dennis Allen already impressed by rookie Shemar Turner

While there is much optimism about Loveland’s potential role in Johnson’s offense, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is already fired up by what he’s seeing from rookie defensive lineman Shemar Turner.

“I think we’ll have to put the saddle on him and break him a little bit but we’d rather have to pull the reins back rather than have to whip him to get him to go,” Allen told reporters during rookie minicamp. “We’re excited about working with him.”

“The first thing we got to do is we got to play him in at defensive tackle and let him learn there, let him develop there, both as a three-technique and a nose, and then we’ll worry about trying to see that flexibility,” Allen said. “From a skill set standpoint, yeah, he’s got some flexibility. We’ll just have to see what he can learn, how quickly he can learn and adapt to what we’re doing.”

Turner, 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, was chosen by the Bears with the No. 62 overall pick in the second round has the potential to be a major upgrade alongside edge rushers Montez Sweat and newcomer Dayo Odeyingbo.

According to Pro Football Focus, Turner posted an elite 7.9 run-stop win rate and adds the potential as the kind of player who can collapse the pocket as an interior pass-rush presence after posting 10 sacks across three seasons in College Station.

Turner’s disruptiveness against the run as well as the pass will likely get him on the field, but his flexibility that Allen mentioned could carve out a major role in Chicago’s defensive line rotation.

The post Why Colston Loveland already feels at home in Chicago Bears’ scheme appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears have big plans for first-round rookie tight end Colston Loveland.

After all, few teams run 12-personnel more often than new Bears head coach Ben Johnson did with the Detroit Lions, and Chicago clearly believes Loveland offers more upside as a pass-catcher than former Penn State standout Tyler Warren, who was chosen four picks after Loveland by the Indianapolis Colts.

In Chicago, Loveland’s route-running and reliable hands could quickly make him a favorite target of former No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Caleb Williams, in a suddenly loaded collection of pass catchers.

According to at least one former NFL executive, though, Loveland couldn’t have landed in a better situation or scheme fit than going off the board at No. 10 overall in April’s NFL Draft.

Why Colston Loveland could be ‘Perfect’ fit for Chicago Bears

Former New York Giants VP of Player Evaluation, Marc Ross, put together a list of incoming rookies who landed in the perfect situation, including adding Loveland to Williams’ supporting cast, a year removed from putting Williams atop the same list.

“The Bears have reshaped their offense to fit Ben Johnson’s vision this offseason,” Ross writes, listing Loveland seventh. “Improving the offensive line and adding playmakers at the skill positions. Enter Loveland, a 6-foot-6, 248-pound weapon in the middle of the field for Caleb Williams. Like we saw with Sam LaPorta in Detroit over the past two seasons, there might be times where it’s more about quality than quantity for Loveland in Johnson’s offense, but we should expect to see plenty of the sure-handed pass catcher in the red zone.”

If Loveland can live up to the LaPorta comparisons, he could figure to make a transformative impact on the Bears’ offense. After all, the former University of Michigan standout only dropped two passes last season in Ann Arbor while averaging 5.2 yards after the catch per reception.

In an offense that already includes DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and that added Luther Burden III in the second round, Loveland has the potential to become a favorite target of Williams both in the red zone but also to move the chains in big spots.

The post Chicago Bears’ rookie lands in ‘perfect’ situation, according to former NFL Executive appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The main focus of Colston Loveland’s repertoire will be mental during the Chicago Bears‘ OTAs this spring. The No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft is rehabbing from the shoulder surgery he had on Jan. 29 to repair an AC joint dislocation he suffered at Michigan last season.

Loveland is not allowed to participate in contact drills during OTAs. He said in April that his doctors gave him a six-month window from his surgery before he can resume full contact, meaning it will be a stretch for Loveland to return to full contact by Day 1 of training camp in July.

In the meantime, Loveland is taking mental reps during OTAs.

Colston Loveland on his relationship with Caleb Williams

Loveland told media after practice that he is planning on building his connection with Caleb Williams this spring when veteran minicamp workouts begin.

“I haven’t got to really see him (Williams) too much in the building because we don’t ever cross paths, but we’ve talked for sure and I’m just looking forward to building that relationship and that connection, for sure,” Loveland said.

Loveland plans to work out with Williams and Chicago Bears receivers

Loveland was asked if he would be able to attend voluntary summer workouts with receivers and Williams despite his shoulder rehab. Loveland said that is the “plan” as of now.

“Yeah, that’s the plan for sure,” Loveland said.

Loveland is allowed to run, but he’s not lifting heavy weights during the spring.

The more Williams and Loveland build chemistry this summer, the better it will be for the rookie when he’s able to return to full contact in practice. Hopefully, the memory Loveland is building this spring and summer will translate to efficient play on the field when he goes against an opponent in the fall.

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On Friday, the Chicago Bears started practice with their new draftees during rookie minicamp. The Bears’ coaching staff has three practices to get their young players up to speed before they work on the field with veterans on May 20.

The Bears’ first-round pick, Colston Loveland, will not be going head-to-head against defenders during OTAs this spring. He’s recovering from the shoulder surgery he had on Jan. 29 to repair an AC joint dislocation he suffered last season at Michigan, causing him to miss the final two games of the Wolverines’ season.

Loveland will be busy this spring learning the terminology of the offense and his assignments in the field by taking mental reps. He hopes to return to full contact around the start of training camp.

Colston Loveland’s health is the Chicago Bears’ No. 1 worry

Head coach Ben Johnson told the media after practice that Loveland’s health was a “priority” for the Bears.

“It’s a matter of meeting, watching the tape, walking through, particularly a guy like Colston right now that, you know, little dinged up still, and so we’re rehabbing him,” Johnson said. “And then that’s a priority for us, is getting him back healthy, because the sooner he gets healthy, then we get the full speed reps, and that’s where it really all comes together.

“So it’s more mental, and we’re going to take full opportunity the time we have with him over the next, call it six weeks, in terms of getting him up to speed with not only what the veterans know mentally, but how much can we walk through with him on the side to speed up the learning process.”

The Bears can rely on Cole Kmet until Loveland is ready

Loveland can only learn so much by taking mental reps during OTAs.

Tight end is a complex position for a rookie to learn in the NFL because he has to understand his many responsibilities as a route runner and as a blocker. Being able to complete those duties on the field against an opponent in real time cannot be replicated by taking mental reps in practice.

Fortunately, the Bears have a veteran tight end on the roster until Loveland gets up to speed this summer/fall in Cole Kmet.

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Colston Loveland and Jim Harbaugh won a national championship with Michigan football together in 2023. While they’re now on two separate teams in the NFL, Harbaugh knows exactly what the Chicago Bears are getting in their new tight end.

The now Los Angeles Chargers head coach played a big role in recruiting Loveland to Michigan. Then, he helped develop him into a crucial part of the offense. During that 2023 championship run, Loveland caught 45 passes for a career-high 649 yards and four touchdowns.

If the tight end was still available at No. 22, it seems likely that Harbaugh and the Chargers would’ve targeted him. However, going at No. 10, Loveland proved to be one of the biggest risers in the 2025 class. As he begins his NFL career, Harbaugh’s comments on Loveland’s potential will certainly fire up Bears fans, via NBC Sports.

“They’re going to love Colston,” Harbaugh said. “Colston is going to love Chicago. He is going to have a much better career than I did in Chicago. Really, really, really great pick. Smart pick by the Chicago Bears. They are getting a great football player.”

Colston Loveland gives Chicago Bears elite passing attack 

Loveland followed up his championship season by setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) while gaining 582 yards. The tight end was named Second-team All-American. Furthermore, he earned a comparison to Ben Johnson favorite Sam LaPorta prior to the draft by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

“Talented young tight end with the athletic ability and ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels. He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option,” Zierlein wrote. “His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching.”

“He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands,” Zierlein continued. “He will keep filling out his frame but is unlikely to ever become more than average as a blocker. Colston’s collection of athletic traits and catch talent creates a high ceiling with the opportunity to become a high-volume target and future Pro Bowler.”

The Bears had been heavily linked to fellow tight end Tyler Warren leading up to the draft. However, they felt his skill set was too similar to that of Cole Kmet’s. Loveland provides a much superior pass catching ability, which is exactly what Johnson was looking for.

Chicago will now have one of the most dangerous one-two punches at tight end. Johnson was known to run plenty of 12 personnel with the Detroit Lions. Now he has two athletic weapons to attack the defense with. Not to mention wide receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden.

Ultimately, Loveland will need to prove why he was the No. 10 overall pick. But clearly he has believers in both Johnson and Harbaugh. If he can get quarterback Caleb Williams on board, Loveland would begin his NFL career on a fiery path.

The post Colston Loveland earns ringing Jim Harbaugh endorsement before Chicago Bears debut appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The NFL Draft has come and gone as the Chicago Bears addressed most of their positional needs, but still have lingering questions at the running back position. The team’s rushing offense is projected to be a significant aspect to new head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, as fans and analysts were expected general manager Ryan Poles to use a high round selection on a running back. With tailback Kyle Monangai being the only back taken in the 2025 NFL Draft for the Bears, Poles could now add a stop gap solution via free agency, as J.K. Dobbins would be an ideal signing.

J.K. Dobbins’ career resume fits well for what the Bears are trying to do with their rushing offense

Dobbins has been in the league since 2020, and despite fighting a lengthy injury history, has proven to be a consistent running back during his career when healthy. He has rushed for over 800 yards in two of his five seasons when he has been able to play more than eight games or more in a year. J.K. Dobbins, despite being a smaller back has also been reliable from a production standpoint averaging over five yards per rushing attempt during his career.

Another aspect as to why Dobbins could serve as a reliable option in Ben Johnson’s offense is due to the coaches and offensive schemes he has played in the last five years. The veteran running back has played for both John and Jim Harbaugh, both of whom have won a Super Bowl and National Title due to strong defenses and strong rushing offenses. Last season with Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers, J.K. Dobbins was the starting running back rushing for over 900 yards and nine touchdowns in only 13 games.

Dobbins’ 2024 season was really remarkable as he wasn’t expected to be a focal point of the Chargers’ run first offense at the beginning of the year. Although the veteran surprised the league rushing for over 250 yards in the first two games of the year, he was still consistent rushing for over 50 yards in five games. Johnson could design a rushing attack around J.K. Dobbins based on how Harbaugh used in in 2024.

When it comes to Chicago’s current list of running backs, the team has three backs in D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Monangai who are expected to be on the roster at the start of the 2025 season. The issue with the current list of backs is that they specialize as a specific type of back and are not seen as universal, whether it be Johnson being more of a goal-line back or Swift only being effective on outside runs. J.K. Dobbins, whether with the Ravens or Chargers, has been used as a featured ball-carrier capable of running in between the tackles and outside also.

With Johnson’s desire for Chicago’s offense to be run dominant paired with the current roster lacking a back with both power and speed, adding Dobbins could be imperative. Chicago’s head coach oversaw a consistent top ten rushing offense when he served as an offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions the last two years, while having a different 1,000-yard rusher over the last three seasons. J.K. Dobbins’ ability to handle inside and outside carries would be an ideal fit for Johnson’s rushing offense, as the scheme relies on running backs with universal ball-carrying traits.

The concern for Chicago right now is that neither Swift or Johnson have shown the capability of being able to show power or speed together, while Monangai will be unproven rookie without any snaps. Dobbins as a one-year stop-gap solution will give Johnson the closest thing to a ball-carrier that fits his offense, while also giving Poles a blueprint of what type of back the team should focus on in the 2026 NFL Draft. The worst thing that could happen in Johnson’s first year as the Bears’ head coach is if the rushing offense is slowed because it doesn’t have the right personnel to work at its highest potential.

Chicago’s current offensive personnel would be a complete offense with J.K. Dobbins

Ryan Poles has had a terrific offseason making vital changes to Chicago’s offensive personnel whether be overhauling the offensive line or adding promising talent at the wide receiver and tight end position. Although Johnson has a nearly complete offense in place for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, having a universe running back such as J.K. Dobbins would make the unit complete. Having a strong running game would make Williams that more efficient now that he has passing weapons in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Cole Kmet, and Colston Loveland.

With the immense talent at the skill positions along with the addition of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson to boost the interior of the offensive line, Chicago needs a featured and proven three-down running back. Dobbins, if healthy, could easily rush for 1,000 yards in Johnson’s offense, something that Swift couldn’t do when playing in Detroit back in 2022. J.K. Dobbins’ presence would make play-action pass plays for Williams that much harder to defend against for opposing defenses due potentially biting on the handoff.

Dobbins being a reliable running back would provide Chicago flexibility to for their other backs too, depending on who is kept if the veteran running back is signed. Johnson would be deployed in the rushing situations that suit him best which is short-yardage and goal-line plays, while Swift could be used on passing downs due to his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Although J.K. Dobbins can also catch the ball, having the versality with the running backs makes the offense that much more unpredictable having one true featured back and other ball-carriers specializing in unique roles.

Poles still needs to make one more addition to Chicago’s offense, which is adding a veteran back that checks all the traits needed for a featured back. If the Bears sign Dobbins, he will be an inexpensive option with low-risks costs that will allow the team to use a first round or second round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on a running back. J.K. Dobbins if signed could be a steal of a signing that allows Johnson to have a ball-carrier capable of rushing for 1,000 yards without having a long-term solution at the position.

The post J.K. Dobbins would be a perfect short-term solution for the Chicago Bears at running back appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears completely shook up the 2025 NFL Draft when they selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall. Now, he is expected to be a crucial weapon for head coach Ben Johnson’s new-look offense.

While fellow tight end Tyler Warren had been heavily linked to the Bears prior to the draft, Chicago preferred Loveland’s pass catching ability. With Cole Kmet still on the roster, Warren’s skillset was a bit too similar. In Chicago, Loveland will operate as the move tight end, looking to make plays whenever he has the ball in open space.

Using the No. 10 overall pick on him shows the Bears have immediate plans for Loveland in 2025. Dan Orlovsky of ESPN thinks the tight end will go as far as to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

“Let’s go with a tight end winning this award for a second straight year,” Orlovsky wrote. “The middle of the field and play-action should be huge areas of attack for Chicago. Loveland can replicate Sam LaPorta’s rookie year production, which Bears coach Ben Johnson played a big role in scheming up while in Detroit.”

Chicago Bears completely change offense with Colston Loveland add

Loveland has been heavily compared to Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta since his selection. Both for his pass catching ability, and how he fits into Johnson’s offense. If Loveland’s rookie season looked like LaPorta’s, he would certainly find himself in the Rookie of the Year race. The tight end caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

During his three seasons at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and receiving touchdowns (five) in 2024. Furthermore, Loveland ended his time with the Wolverines as a Second-team All-American.

With Kmet working as the in-line blocker and as a short yardage/red zone threat, Loveland will be free to operate in the middle of the field. With his speed, Johnson will be looking for ways to create mismatches with linebackers who can’t hang. Overall, Loveland is the x-factor of the Bears’ offense, with the tight end bringing a dynamic not often seen at the position.

Ultimately, Loveland’s Rookie of the Year or really just rookie year success chances go up or down depending on Caleb Williams. If he ascends to his No. 1 pick status, Loveland and the rest of the offense will shine. But if the quarterback struggles in Johnson’s debut, so will Loveland.

In terms of actually winning ROY, Loveland will have plenty of competition for targets in Chicago. DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Kmet all still need to be fed. So while that will make Chicago a stronger offense overall, it may limit Loveland’s true blow up games.

Still, the Bears know exactly what they’re getting in their shiny new tight end. Johnson was keen to add playmakers all over the gridiron upon his arrival to Chicago. Loveland may be listed as a tight end, but he plays like a wide receiver. That pass catching prowess will be pivotal for Johnson and Williams as the Bears look to undergo a true offensive revival.

The post Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland already drawing Rookie of the Year buzz appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears needed better tight end production in 2024. Cole Kmet finished the season with 47 receptions for 474 yards and four touchdowns, down from his 719 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

The Bears selected Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick in the draft. While he plays tight end, Loveland is expected to play more of a slot role than in-line. Kmet will be used as a traditional tight end and blocker while Loveland plays more of a receiver.

The Chicago Bears’ TE situation is a luxury

Having two quality tight ends is a luxury and can create exciting mismatches in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends). Given Loveland’s inability to go full-contact until training camp because of his shoulder injury, it made sense to think Kmet would be the main TE1 in situations that called for one tight end in the upcoming season.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune isn’t convinced head coach Ben Johnson will wait to deploy the rookie in pressure situations. In an answer to a reader’s question about Loveland’s new role, Biggs argued that the Bears’ “plan” will likely include using Loveland as the tight end in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end) in third down situations.

How big of a role the Bears give Loveland in the upcoming season will depend on how quickly the Michigan standout can grasp the offense.

“That probably will be the plan, but the Bears know they can get quality production from Cole Kmet and they have to see how Loveland develops,” Biggs wrote. “Tight end is arguably the second-most difficult offensive position for rookies after quarterback.

“That’s because so much is going on and they are asked to carry a big load with a lot of responsibilities in the passing and running games.Ben Johnson will have an awful lot of flexibility with personnel and it should be fun to see how it develops.”

Colston Loveland needs to get there mentally

While Loveland will not physically participate in practice with Caleb Williams and the rest of the offense in OTAs, his mental reps will be important this spring. He must learn his responsibilities in the offense before he gets thrown into the deep end during training camp.

The Bears selected Loveland in the first round because they believe he has the talent to move the needle in passing situations on third down. That faith could mean Kmet’s time in Chicago is rapidly nearing an end.

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One of the more interesting draft night surprises in the year’s first round was when the Chicago Bears selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 over the much-hyped Penn State Standout Tyler Warren.

As with the Bears’ second pick in the draft, wide receiver Luther Burden III, Loveland’s numbers trailed off in 2024 with inconsistent quarterback play. Still, he led the Wolverines in Receiving.

Following the selection, general manager Ryan Poles suggested that Warren was a solid player, but the Bears drafted Loveland because of his fit in new head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme. Loveland is expected to be used as a receiving tight end--much like Travis Kelce in the slot.

Cole Kmet can be used for more inline tight end play.

Colston Loveland is a better receiver

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg quoted two coaches who think Loveland is a better receiver than Warren but think Warren is a more complete player. One coach thinks Loveland’s blocking is a concern for the Bears

“The quarterback play [in 2024] kind of killed him, he didn’t have anybody to throw him the ball,” said a Big Ten defensive coordinator. “But I think he’s pretty special. He’s more of a receiving tight end, where Tyler can kind of do it all. Two good ones, though. No doubt about it.”

Loveland’s blocking is a concern for the Chicago Bears

The second coach isn’t sure if Loveland’s shoulder injury played a role in Loveland not blocking as much in 2024.

“Warren’s more of hard-nosed, tough, physical, along with being a good receiving threat,” said the coach. “Loveland’s a little bit more of a better receiver, a little less blocking. I don’t know if it was the injury or what this year, but they didn’t really use him a ton to block. So is it, he can’t do it or he was banged up? Penn State’s guy is a little bit more of a complete player.”

Loveland had shoulder surgery on Jan. 29 to repair an AC joint issue that prematurely ended his season following Michigan’s 50-6 win over Northwestern on Nov. 23. He’s expected to return to full-contact around the time training camp starts.

Loveland might have a surprise up his sleeve for Chicago

Loveland is known for being “Idaho tough,” so blocking should be something he develops with the Bears. Loveland’s high school coach, Cameron Andersen, told ChiCitySports that his former tight end’s skillset has a range beyond what he put on tape at Michigan.

“One of the big things that it’s a misnomer about Colston that people don’t understand is the athlete that he is,” Andersen said. “In high school, there was one game where he played five positions, he threw a touchdown, ran a touchdown and and caught a touchdown, and had an interception on defense… He is a phenomenal athlete.

“Just Michigan didn’t ask him to do some of those things that Tyler Warren was able to do, but when you see him at practice or on the field in the NFL, he’s a phenomenal athlete who can do a whole bunch of really good things. So they’re going to be very pleased with that.”

Knowing how hard Loveland works, one would assume blocking is something he will improve at in the NFL.

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The post Coaches have concern on Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears are adamant that both Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland will have major roles in Ben Johnson’s new offense. However, Loveland’s arrival to the Windy City has thrown a major curveball into Chicago’s offensive plans.

Perhaps a hanging meatball to Johnson, who will take all of the offensive firepower he can get. But the head coach must now find a way to succeed with both tight ends on the field. The Bears invested the No. 10 pick into Loveland, showing they have immediate plans for him. But Chicago is taking a near $12 million cap hit on Kmet in 2025, they don’t want him sitting on the sidelines.

Still, there’s no denying what Loveland brings to the field. With Johnson running so many two-tight end sets, both should see the field plenty. But when the Bears release their depth chart, Dame Parson of Bleacher Report argues that Loveland should be the clear starter over Kmet.

“Veteran Cole Kmet is the Chicago Bears’ TE1, but that soon may change after they spent the 10th overall pick on fellow tight end Colston Loveland,” Parson wrote. “The Michigan product should immediately be thrown into 12-personnel packages or two-tight-end sets alongside Kmet.”

“Loveland was the No. 13 overall prospect and top-ranked tight end on our scouting department’s final predraft big board. Kmet can hold down the main in-line blocking assignments early on while Loveland gets adjusted to the physicality of the NFL.”

“Even if he doesn’t start, Loveland should have an immediate impact on the Bears’ offense with plenty of wide receiver talent surrounding him,” Parson concluded.

Chicago Bears tight end situation 

The Bears aren’t looking at it as a Kmet vs. Loveland situation. Them selecting a tight end at No. 10 may have stunned some fans and analysts. However, Loveland and Kmet offers two different skill sets.

Kmet will be the team’s primary in-line blocker and will contribute in the short-game. Furthermore, the tight end will be a key safety blanket for Caleb Williams whenever he needs a completion. Under Johnson, one area Kmet could truly take over in is the red zone. Keenan Allen led the Bears with seven touchdowns in 2024. With the receiver essentially gone from Chicago, Kmet can get those looks.

With Loveland’s arrival, and the tight end’s poor 2024 season, everyone has forgotten what Kmet brings to the table. But he has caught 19 touchdowns over his five-year NFL career, including seven in 2022. He may not pop in the box score weekly, but Johnson is still planning for Kmet to be an integral part of the offense.

Loveland is a tight end by trade, but he plays much more like a wide receiver. His pass catching skills and athleticism are why Chicago made him the first tight end off the board before Tyler Warren. Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with Michigan in 2023 before being named Second-team All-American in 2024.

The tight end will operate as an intermediate playmaker. With DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on the outside, Loveland will be able to find space in the open field. And once he has the ball in his hands, Loveland is a menace. Johnson will scheme ways to create mismatches with undersized/slow linebackers. With so many options to throw to, Williams will surely have opportunities to make big plays.

But that doesn’t happen without proper blocking and a continual movement of the chains. Kmet will certainly need to prove himself once Loveland is fully acclimated. But the Bears are hopeful of a 1A, 1B type situation rather than Loveland soaking up all the tight end playing time.

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General manager Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears have set Caleb Williams up on a launch pad of sorts, ahead of the quarterback’s second NFL season.

On the heels of a disappointing rookie season where Williams never got onto the same page with receivers D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze while facing a barrage of pressure on his way to being sacked 68 times and working alongside two different offensive coordinators, the former No. 1 overall pick not only had a new offensive-minded head coach but a revamped supporting cast awaiting him in 2025.

From free agency through the NFL Draft, the Bears have been laser-focused on fixing the offense and setting Williams up to make a major leap in 2025, culminating with a draft class that is garnering high praise among analysts across the nation.

NFL Media’s Gennaro Filice suggests is a big fan of the Bears’ offseason, overall.

“Caleb Williams is enjoying a fine 2025,” Filice writes for NFL Media.” First, the Bears landed the hottest name of this head-coaching cycle in offensive guru Ben Johnson. Then Ryan Poles aggressively overhauled the interior offensive line via trade/free agency. And in the draft, Chicago spent its first two picks on a mismatch tight end (Colston Loveland) and a YAC receiver (Luther Burden III). Adding those two playmakers to a pass-catching group that already includes DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, the Bears have given their second-year quarterback a cache of weapons he can grow with.

“Oh, and for good measure, Chicago scooped up a towering tackle with NFL bloodlines (Ozzy Trapilo) for depth and development up front. Now, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen might feel like he got the short end of the stick, but I do think the Bears got a quality DT at No. 62 (Shemar Turner) and took a worthwhile late-round chance on a size/speed corner (Zah Frazier).”

While there could be potential growing pains for an offensive line that will be fielding as many as four new starters–should Trapilo win a starting job this summer, there is little doubt that the Bears significantly improved the offensive line and perhaps dramatically upgraded Williams’ supporting cast this offseason.

If Williams does his part and the incoming talent lives up to its pedigree, the Bears could be a team to watch to make major strides this fall.

Why Chicago Bears’ NFL Draft class ranked among league’s best

One of the biggest reasons for optimism for the Bears, and for Williams, this season is the arrival of tight end Colston Loveland and an NFL Draft class that was seemingly collected with boosting Chicago’s young quarterback in mind.

Filice ranked all 32 NFL Draft classes, with the Bears ranked third in the league, including Loveland as his favorite piack that Chicago made over draft weekend.

“Despite the fact that Tyler Warren topped Loveland on most analysts’ boards and mock drafts,” Filice writes. “I stubbornly stuck to the opinion that the Michigan product would come off the board first, presuming some teams would value his route artistry over Warren’s throwback game. So, yes, this is my favorite pick because it made me feel smart. But also because it’s easy to envision Johnson deploying Loveland in a similar manner to how he utilized Sam LaPorta in Detroit.”

Loveland’s ability to create mismatches over the middle could make him an ideal fit for what Johnson does best and could make him an instant impact contributor in Williams’ supporting cast.

Given that Johnson’s system thrives on two-tight-end sets, Loveland’s arrival and pairing him alongside Cole Kmet not only has the potential to throw Chicago’s playbook wide open but could set Williams up for success because he’ll have two security blankets in a pair of reliable tight ends.

The post Chicago Bears’ Caleb Williams among the NFL’s biggest offseason winners appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Head coach Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears have big plans for first-round pick Colston Loveland, and it’s easy to see why general manager Ryan Poles and Co. were thrilled to select the former Michigan tight end No. 10 overall in this year’s draft.

Loveland, 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, wasn’t just a reliable pass-catcher during his collegiate career at Ann Arbor, hauling in 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns last season in a run-based scheme, but he showed all the traits of a smooth route runner who could excel at the next level.

Given that during Johnson’s time as play-caller for the Detroit Lions only two teams ran two-tight end sets more often last season, adding Loveland and dropping him into quarterback Caleb Williams‘ arsenal alongside fellow tight end Cole Kmet, and receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and fellow rookie Luther Burden III, Chicago just might have round out what has the chance to be a prolific collection of pass catchers.

There also might have been one key reason the Bears tabbed Loveland over Penn State’s Tyler Warren with their first-round pick.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson found his Sam LaPorta

In Detroit, Johnson was instrumental in helping develop Lions tight end Sam LaPorta into a Pro Bowler and Second-Team All-Pro selection, and believes that in Loveland he’s found a similar weapon.

“I do see a lot of comparisons to LaPorta, that’s not just on the field, that was off the field as well because with LaPorta, the stage was never too big or too bright,” Johnson recently told reporters. “I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him.

“He doesn’t bat an eye. He performs at a high level.”

If Loveland can develop into a similar player, he’s going to help significantly elevate the Bears’ defense and Williams taking the next step towards living up to his potential as a former No. 1 overall pick, similarly to how LaPorta played a big role in Jared Goff playing his way into the MVP conversation in recent years.

Meanwhile, Loveland isn’t shying away from the LaPorta comparison, and says he models his game after the Lions star.

“This last year, I feel like I took a huge step,” Loveland told reporters shortly after being drafted. “Just the little details that create big separation. I watched a lot of Nico Collins, obviously, he’s a receiver, bigger body, though. I think I can take a lot of tools from his bag.

“Sam LaPorta. I’m a big fan of watching him. Similar guys that kind of move the same as me. Evan Engram, even. With the details, that has definitely helped my route running. Still a lot to improve on, and I’m excited.”

The post Ben Johnson reveals big reason he believes Chicago Bears found their Sam LaPorta appeared first on ChiCitySports.

When Colston Loveland takes the field for the Chicago Bears, it will be the first time anyone has represented Gooding High School in the NFL since Stan Pavko played guard and tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1940.

Loveland is related to the Pavko family, another prominent name of about four in the small Gooding community in Idaho. The No. 10 pick in the draft has spent plenty of time since the draft talking about the virtues he learned in his hometown.

After taking Loveland in round one, general manager Ryan Poles talked about Loveland’s “Idaho toughness.” In the pre-draft process, Poles asked the Michigan standout how he came to possess strong hand strength. Loveland’s response was to ask Poles if he ever put up a wire fence in Idaho.

Poles hadn’t.

But as his former head coach at Gooding High School, Cameron Andersen, told ChiCitySports, Loveland built more than hand strength by putting up fences in frigid temperatures during Mountain West winters.

“I would say that the main part of it is like Idaho is so wide open, especially where Gooding is,” Andersen said of what Loveland meant by building fences in Idaho. “So cattle, you release them out into the hills and the mountains, and they can roam wherever they want. So you have to put up these fences to keep them in. And the fences have barbed wire. If you’ve seen those, I’m sure you’ve seen the guy at the bar with the tattoo looking cool, but that barbed wire, it’s rough, and you’re out, there’s nothing near you.

“You’re out in the middle of the desert, and it’s cold and there’s this whole mindset of, like, he specifically mentioned taking a fence down for the winter so that it’s not broken, because you’re taking those cows in during the winter, and you’re housing them somewhere. But if you ever think about the thought process, ‘I’m going to go down this miles and miles of fence and take it down, just so I can go and put it back up.’

“And so I think that’s one of the things that builds that Idaho toughness, that Idaho mentality that people keep asking about, is the thought process of the way of life. There’s less about, well, ‘Why are we doing this, and why are we doing this,’ and why it’s more about, you have a job, and you get it done, and you know that the end game is the most important part.”

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland: Idaho isn’t for everybody

During his introductory press conference, Loveland said that kind of work wasn’t for everybody.

“Where I’m from, really Idaho as a whole…All everyone does there is just work,” Loveland said. “Seeing how my parents grew up, and they just worked their butts off. Everyone in the community, very blue collar…I wouldn’t say a lot of people are built for it. But I think it’s a blessing to come from there.”

In a town of about 3,500 residents, citizens are expected to play multiple roles. Loveland’s former assistant football and basketball coach, Tanner Baumann, now the head coach of Gooding High School’s football team, explained why Loveland suggested most people aren’t built for that lifestyle.

“If you like days off, if you like sleeping in, if you don’t like the sound of sprinklers or mosquitoes in the summer or being 20 minutes from the river or 45 minutes from the mountains, then you probably wouldn’t like it,” Baumann said.

“I’m the head football coach, but I’m also in charge of painting the field, and sometimes there are rocks on it I gotta take care of…Gooding is a special place, because you may have a title of accountant, but you might also be the exterminator for your building, or the housekeeper, or the janitor.”

Loveland played the part of a student, athlete, and rancher growing up.

“He would wake up early in the morning, he would go out on the desert, and he would work with cattle, and then he would come back and do a full practice,” Andersen said. “And we just, we never heard a word of complaining.”

Loveland didn’t take a break in the downtime between his senior football season and the spring following his commitment to Michigan.

One day Andersen asked, “Hey, Colston, you feeling all right?” after seeing him limp through a hallway at school.

“Yeah, it’s just leg day,” Loveland replied.

Loveland had bigger things in mind than a little pain in high school.

“Like, did you do leg day hard enough that even though you’re in shape, you’re still limping through the hallways? He never took days off,” Andersen said. “The end game, what was down the road, was always just more important than what immediacy was.”

Loveland was always preparing himself for the next level, but he remained loyal to the school by taking the humble route in his senior season with the basketball program. Because of his early enrollment at Michigan in the spring semester of 2022, Loveland knew he wouldn’t play a full season on Gooding High School’s basketball team.

Loveland chose to stay on the program as a “practice dummy” until he departed for Michigan. He didn’t want to participate in games and take time away from players who would be needed later in the season when it mattered. His actions on and off the court led to the respect of his peers.

“At his draft party, all his buddies that played basketball and football, they were all there right beside him,” Baumann said. “So that tells you kind of how special of a person he is in that regard.”

Baumann generously described Loveland’s basketball style as a “big effort guy” and “very much a football player.” He was never a great shooter, but he worked his tail off and had offers to play in college. Because of his size, Loveland was called for fouls because he was bigger and stronger than his competition.

Colston Loveland left behind a big legacy in Gooding, Idaho

While basketball is another way to pass time in the offseason, Football is king in Gooding.

When he was the head coach at Gooding, Andersen sold parking spaces around the football field. The school would have special nights where first responders would park around the field. Fire engine lights, ambulance lights, and police car lights would start blinking each time Gooding High School scored. Loveland was the cause of quite a few lights going off, as he finished his high school career with 39 total touchdowns.

Loveland’s legacy is having an immediate impact on the football program. Baumann is noticing an uptick in kids wanting to play for the Senators. Loveland’s younger brother, Cash Loveland, is following in Colston’s footsteps by playing tight end and linebacker.

While Baumann is unsure if Loveland’s No. 5 jersey will be retired by the community (Baumann is leaving the choice to retire the number up to Loveland), he said people in Gooding have no problems remembering when Loveland comes back to town. He’s been generous in giving back to the community.

“There’s not a kid in the school who doesn’t know who Colston is, and part of that is when he’s in town, he comes to the school and signs autographs and yearbooks and takes pictures,” Baumann said. “We have our state deaf and blind school in Gooding. And Colston was here one time and was wearing the blind goggles and using the stick and letting the kids with some poor vision teach him how to walk without his eyes.”

Both Andersen and Baumann are awed by Loveland’s achievement. In an era where most first-round picks prepare for college by playing at high school football factories, he had no choice but to make it through hard work in a town that doesn’t have as many resources or teammates.

“The easiest way for me to describe ‘Idaho tough’ is it’s yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” Baumann said. “Nothing’s really given here.”

The three main occupations in Gooding are farming (dairymen), teaching, and a barrel cheese processing factory owned by the Irish multinational nutrition company Glanbia. The football stadium has bleachers that would appear to hold under 100 people. It has a green field that is surrounded by rocks, telephone poles, and limited lighting.

In a town full of corn-fed farmers, Gooding High School’s football team is naturally bigger than much of their competition. The school had challenges playing against faster teams.

Kurtis Adkinson, the quarterback throwing Loveland the ball in high school was listed at six-foot-two, 245 pounds. Andersen said that Loveland used to run a 5.0 40-yard dash time in high school, and credited Jim Harbaugh’s staff for developing his 4.7 speed in college.

“I think one of the reasons why Gooding is so proud of Colston is like, if you haven’t been there, it’s on the way to nothing,” Andersen said. “If you end up in Gooding, it’s because you meant to go there… The people that are there have been there for a very long time. And so I think one of the reasons that the town of Gooding is so proud of Colston is he’s one of those originals.”

Loveland’s selection by the Bears is set to change some allegiances to teams in the NFL in Gooding. The two closest league teams are the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, but there isn’t a dominant fan base in the town. Andersen is a Detroit Lions fan, and Baumann likes the Green Bay Packers. Both coaches are putting aside their respective teams’ rivalry for the Bears to root for Loveland.

“I think Chicago’s a pretty, pretty cool place for him to get drafted to,” Baumann said. “You guys got a pretty good kid as far as character goes. So I may be a lowly Packers fan, but I’m gonna have a soft spot for the Bears right now.”

Andersen thinks the Bears are getting a special player. Many scouts had Penn State tight end Tyler Warren ahead of Loveland in the 2025 class, but Chicago thought differently. Andersen believes Loveland has the athleticism to match Warren, but he didn’t have an opportunity to showcase it as much in Michigan’s system.

“One of the big things that it’s a misnomer about Colston that people don’t understand is the athlete that he is,” Andersen said. “In high school, there was one game where he played five positions, he threw a touchdown, ran a touchdown and and caught a touchdown, and had an interception on defense… He is a phenomenal athlete.

“Just Michigan didn’t ask him to do some of those things that Tyler Warren was able to do, but when you see him at practice or on the field in the NFL, he’s a phenomenal athlete who can do a whole bunch of really good things. So they’re going to be very pleased with that.”

Loveland will have the opportunity to show his mental toughness in OTAs in May and June.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson plans to have his staff go through mental reps with him this spring as he physically recovers from surgery he had to repair his shoulder (AC joint dislocation) on Jan. 29. Loveland is expected to return to full-contact drills around the start of training camp this summer.

Then it will be time for Loveland to put up his first fence in the NFL before knocking it down in January.

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The Chicago Bears raised eyebrows across the NFL when they selected Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick. But once fans and analysts took a moment to think about the pick, it became clear why the Bears targeted Loveland.

With Ben Johnson taking over as Chicago’s new head coach, he is undoubtedly looking to raise the offensive bar. During his time with the Detroit Lions, Johnson helped fellow tight end Sam LaPorta become one of the lite options in the entire NFL. While it’d be unfair to make a direct one-for-one comparison, it’s clear Loveland is poised for a major role in Johnson’s offense.

Still, Chicago has plenty of mouths to feed. There’s veteran tight end Cole Kmet, alongside a trio of playmaking receivers in DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. However, those are the NFL aren’t concerned with where Loveland fits into the mix. Especially after using the No. 10 pick on him, one NFL executive believes te tight end will be one of the primary options in Johnson’s debut Bears offense, via Mike Sando of The Athletic.

“Loveland is going to catch a million balls,” an exec said. “He will be better than (Sam) LaPorta. He is such a good receiver, and he’s bigger — two inches taller and another 10 pounds. They will have an 11 personnel package with Burden in the slot and the 12 package when Burden is off the field with Loveland and Kmet on the field. They are set up pretty well.”

Colston Loveland ready for Chicago Bears debut 

Loveland would need to put together essentially a historic season if he is truly going to outpace LaPorta as a rookie. The Lions tight end grabbed 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. Still, Loveland is a clear favorite of Johnson’s. The Bears wouldn’t have used the No. 10 overall pick on him if the franchise didn’t expect him to make an immediate difference.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023, setting a new career-high in yardage (649). Loveland ended his time at Michigan as a Second-team All-American by setting new career-bests in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).

Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, there was a large debate between Warren and Loveland for who would be the first tight end off the board. Warren was consistently mocked to the Bears as he seemed like the consensus top option. However, Chicago preferred Loveland’s athleticism and pass catching ability. With a blocking and short yardage tight end already on the roster in Kmet, Loveland will be free to make plays in the middle of the field.

For as exciting as the Bears’ offense looks on paper, Johnson must still figure out how to make things click perfectly. Ensuring quarterback Caleb Williams levels up will be top priority. But now Loveland is here as another elite playmaker for the quarterback to work with. Both of their NFL careers will now be forever intertwined. How they develop as a duo will be crucial for the totality of Chicago’s offense.

Once training camp begins, the Bears will have a better sense of what their offense actually looks like. But for now, everyone remains salivating over the idea of Loveland playing for Johnson.

The post Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland draws outrageous reception prediction from exec appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The first NFL Draft class in the Chicago Bears‘ Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson partnership is garnering accolades as one of the best across the league.

Whether it is adding a pair of potentially elite pass catchers for Caleb Williams in the first two rounds, in tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden, or adding possible key contributors at all three levels of the defense, Poles and Johnson bolstered the talent across the roster, perhaps significantly.

Chicago Bears NFL Draft class heralded as one of the league’s best

Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema put together a list of his favorite hauls from the 2025 NFL Draft, including the Bears, which he gives an “A-” grade.

“Chicago’s draft grade heavily depends on what you think of Luther Burden III and Shemar Turner,” Sikkema writes for PFF. “To the delight of Bears fans, I like both. Picking Loveland over Tyler Warren is fine, as both were top 20 prospects to me. Burden was my WR2, and Ben Johnson can push him to be the best version of himself. He will get a lot of natural work in the slot.

“Trapilo is not as much of a lean into the zone blocking scheme I thought the Beras would run more of, but he’s great value for them as a reserve tackle. Hyppolite, Frazier and Newman are good bets on athletes, though all were drafted a bit early. I was surprised that Chicago didn’t attack running back before the seventh round, but I do like Monangai — if nothing else, as a strong pass-protecting, third-down back.”

The top of the Bears’ draft, adding Loveland and Burden, has the potential to facilitate quarterback Caleb Williams making a major leap in 2025 and could each be a major upgrade in the passing game, but, Poles and the Bears deserve credit for adding quality depth across the roster.

Even after passing on one of the top running backs in the draft, Poles, Johnson, and the Bears can still add a starting-caliber weapon at the position before training camp gets underway, filling one of the remaining needs on a roster that seemingly got better during the draft.

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When the Chicago Bears hired head coach Ben Johnson, the franchise sent a clear message that they’re expecting offensive improvement moving forward. The Bears held true on that belief in the 2025 draft, using their first three draft picks on offensive players.

More specifically, Chicago’s first two picks were on offensive skill position players. Tight end Colston Loveland came off the board at No. 10 while wide receiver Luther Burden followed at No. 39. Neither were necessarily positions of need entering the draft for the Bears. However, it’s hard to argue that Chicago has accomplished their goal of offensive revival, at least on paper.

There were 257 total picks made throughout the entire 2025 NFL Draft. And to Matt Miller of ESPN, the Bears drafting Burden was the best pick of the entire event.

“Burden was my top wide receiver in the class (I’m counting Travis Hunter as a two-way player), and he landed in a great situation with the Bears and new coach Ben Johnson,” Miller wrote. “Burden’s yards-after-catch ability is terrific, and Johnson’s scheme has been elite at creating space for wide receivers. Burden likely starts as a slot receiver with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze flanking him, but he thrived in that alignment at Missouri.”

Luther Burden gives Chicago Bears extra spark 

The Bears already have two standout receivers in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. They signed veteran Olamide Zaccheaus early in the offseason, seemingly to fill the WR3 role. However, Chicago finished their 2024 campaign ranked second-to-last in passing offense, averaging 181.5 yards per game. Johnson and company want quarterback Caleb Williams to have as many strong weapons as possible at his disposal in 2025.

Burden will likely start out in the slot, a role he excelled at during his time at Missouri. Over his three years with the Tigers, the wide receiver caught 192 passes for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns. While he was named First-team All-SEC in his final two seasons, Burden broke out during his sophomore campaign. Then, he set new career-highs in receptions (86), yardage (1,212) and touchdowns (nine).

Burden is at his best with the ball in open space. There aren’t many receivers in the 2025 class, if there are any, better after the catch than Burden. Johnson will surely be scheming up ways to get the ball in the wide receivers hands. While it’ll be a difficult leap up to the NFL level, Burden and everyone on the Bears remains confident the second-round pick has what it takes to shine in the Windy City.

Don’t forget about Loveland 

Burden wasn’t the only pick to be heralded by Miller. He named Chicago’s Loveland selection the seventh-best pick of the draft. The Bears were the only franchise to have two top 10 selections in Miller’s eyes.

“I had Loveland as my No. 1 tight end, and apparently the Bears agreed; they made him the top tight end drafted,” Miller wrote. “His ability in the passing game — he runs routes like a receiver and has the speed to separate from linebackers and safeties — makes Loveland an easy comparison to Sam LaPorta, whom Bears coach Ben Johnson had great success with in Detroit. Value, need and scheme fit all match with this pick.”

Leading up to the draft, many scouts and pundits projected that Chicago would target Tyler Warren. However, the Bears preferred Loveland’s athleticism and abilities in the passing game. With Cole Kmet already on the roster, his arrival gives the Bears a dynamic duo at the tight end position.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023 before setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) in 2022. The tight end ended his time in Michigan earning Second-team All-American honors.

The Bears have spent all offseason bolstering their offense around Williams ahead of Johnson’s arrival. Burden and Loveland give Chicago two potent weapons to build their pass attack around. While that will be exciting for fans in 2025, the Bears are planning to be an offensive force for the foreseeable future.

The post Chicago Bears’ offensive draft haul earns eye-opening insider take appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears made a major statement when they selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With fellow tight end Cole Kmet on the roster, it may seem like an odd decision on the surface by the Bears.

However, new head coach Ben Johnson ran plenty of two-tight end sets during his time with the Detroit Lions. Furthermore, Chicago is trying to become much more dynamic after finishing the 2024 campaign dead last in total offense, averaging just 284.6 yards per game. Adding a player like Loveland to the mix should certainly make the Bears most explosive whenever they have the ball.

But despite the glow of Loveland being a first-round pick, the Bears won’t soon forget about Kmet. Instead, Johnson and company are still planning on the tight end having a major role in the offense even after the arrival of Loveland, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

“Loveland won’t see the field for several months while he continues to rehab his shoulder, so early indications of how Chicago will utilize the rookie and veteran tight end Cole Kmet won’t come until later,” Cronin wrote.

“The Bears are adamant Kmet will maintain a significant role despite a dip in his production last year,” Cronin continued. “Kmet went from 719 yards and six TDs in 2023 to 474 and four playing with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in 2024.”

Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland co-exist on Chicago Bears

The Bears undoubtedly wanted to add offense with Johnson’s official head coaching debut looming. At No. 10, they felt Loveland was the best option available. While he is a tight end by title, Loveland’s athleticism is much greater than many options currently in the NFL.

Over his three years with Michigan, the tight end caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) in 2024. Loveland ended his time with the Wolverines as a Second-team All-American.

With his athleticism, Loveland is a menace with the ball in space. As DJ Moore and Rome Odunze operate on the premier, Loveland will work up the middle. The tight end has the speed to get past linebackers and the toughness to gain extra yards after the catch. Overall, Loveland is expected to be an offensive dynamo for Johnson.

But where does that leave Kmet? While nothing is official until a contract it signed, it seems unlikely that Keenan Allen will be making a return to the Windy City in 2025. If that remains true, then 70 receptions, 744 yards and a team-leading seven touchdowns are on the table.

Kmet can become a true force in the red zone and a big bodied safety blanket in the short game. The tight end has caught 19 touchdowns over his five years with the Bears, including seven in 2022. If the defense is crashing in on Williams, he could look Kmet’s way rather than trying to throw a bomb downfield. That’s not say Kmet can’t be a big play threat and Johnson will surely have some dialed up. But Kmet near the line of scrimmage, Loveland in the middle of the field, Moore and Odunze on the outside with Luther Burden causing havoc from the slot sounds like a scary offense to compete with on paper.

Johnson must figure out how to put all the pieces together, but he has committed to keeping Kmet featured in the offense. Rather than Loveland cutting into his performance, Chicago is hoping the veteran tight end adapts and thrives in their new-look offense.

The post Chicago Bears remain committed to Cole Kmet despite Colston Loveland pick appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears raised plenty of eyebrows when they selected Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick. However, teams around the league seemed to be hot on the former Michigan star’s tail.

While Tyler Warren was the talk of the 2025 tight end class, Loveland ended up being the first tight end selected. Now, he is expected to be a crucial offensive chess piece for new head coach Ben Johnson.

Before the Bears turned their card in, there was plenty of buzz about franchises trading up the board. But as soon as Chicago drafted Loveland, that noise abruptly faded, via Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. While he didn’t say it was because Loveland was those franchise’s top targets, simply that the tight end coming off the board completely changed countless draft plans.

“Before the draft I’m starting to hear that a couple teams are really actively trying to trade up. I heard the Texans were and I heard the Broncos were,” Rapoport said. “The Bears take Colston Loveland at No. 10 and a bunch of calls stopped.”

"Before the draft I'm starting to hear that a couple of teams are really actively trying to trade up..

I heard that the Texans and Broncos were..

The Bears take Colston Loveland at 10 and then a bunch of calls stop" ~ @RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/DRFo3ZOzez

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 28, 2025

Colston Loveland completely changes Chicago Bears

Loveland won the Bears over by his playmaking ability. While he was in a battle with Warren for TE1 duties, no one was doubting Loveland’s ability to make plays with the ball in space. After helping Sam LaPorta join the NFL’s elites with the Detroit Lions, Johnson now has his next tight end project to work with.

Over his three years at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023, setting a new career-high in yardage with 649. Loveland then ended his time at Michigan by setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) while being named Second-team All-American.

While the Bears already have Cole Kmet on their roster, Johnson was known to run plenty of 12 personnel with the Lions. Furthermore, each tight end fills a different role. Kmet will be a bruiser, putting in work as a blocker. Then in short yardage and red zone opportunities, the tight end will make his bag. Keenan Allen’s likely departure opens up a team-leading seven touchdown grabs. Kmet should take over that big-bodied role in scoring opportunities.

Loveland should be a menace in the red zone as well, but with his athleticism, the Bears will look to get him the ball in open space. While Kmet operates in the short game, Loveland will be an intermediate option . With DJ Moore and Rome Odunze on the outside, that’s a difficult matchup for most defenses to face.

The tight end is a big play waiting to happen, which is exactly why Chicago was so adamant about selecting him at No. 10. There’s no guarantee that the Texans, Broncos or any other team were specifically trying to trade up for Loveland. But it’s telling that trade talks stopped when he came off the board.

But it’s one thing to draft a player and another to fully acclimate them into your offense. Especially as a rookie tight end playing for a first-year head coach in a new city. Regardless, the Bears and Johnson remain confident that sooner rather than later, Loveland will be a focal point of the offense. Those teams trying to trade up will just have to daydream.

The post How Chicago Bears threw NFL Draft into tailspin with Colston Loveland pick appeared first on ChiCitySports.

With the NFL draft officially coming to a close on Saturday, the Chicago Bears front office has been graded by various outlets for their showing this year. The franchise entered the draft with a few needs to take care prior to camp this summer and while the front office might not have been able to address those as much as they wanted to, they still came out of the draft with some strong talent.

A theme of this draft for Chicago was trading down as soon as day two got underway. They traded down a handful of times across the final two days of the draft and were able to recoup some assets back that they lost in the trade market when acquiring offensive linemen back in March.

Despite the board not totally shaking out the way that the organization was hoping that it would, they still came away with some really good pieces in this draft class. Plenty of the outlets that have already graded the Bears draft as a strong one, and the NFL’s national writer for The Athletic further backed that idea.

National writer gives the Chicago Bears a high draft grade

Dane Brugler of The Athletic thought very highly of what the Bears pulled of in the draft this past weekend compared to the rest of their division and the entire league. Brugler gave Chicago the seventh-best draft in the entire league, which ranks 13 spots higher on his list than the next best class in the NFC. He had Green Bay at 20, Detroit at 21 and Minnesota slotted in 32nd with the worst draft class in the league.

The Bears selecting Luther Burden in the second round was a shock at first, but fans quickly got excited about what it means for the offense moving forward. With Chicago having four pass catchers in the offense already following the Colston Loveland pick in the first round, many assumed that a wide receiver was out of the question on Friday. The choice of Burden only further confirms that new head coach Ben Johnson is looking to sculpt his offense both right now and down the road in terms of having the right personnel for Caleb Williams.

The Chicago Bears not taking a running back higher in this draft and missing out on the top end edge rushing talent could be a reason why Brugler doesn’t have their class in the top five. They ended up taking Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers as their running back selection in the seventh round and appear to be rolling with their current edge group into camp this summer.

Colston Loveland is the reason Chicago Bears draft could be great

Loveland quickly soared up big boards days before the draft and Chicago made him the first tight end taken on Thursday. He is already receiving comparisons to Sam LaPorta, which is only fitting seeing as Johnson could view Loveland as the perfect fit for that role in his new scheme in the Windy City.

The former Michigan Wolverine finished the 2024 season with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He is another threat that opposing defenses with have to plan for this season and could be around the Bears organization for a long time. Because of how versatile Loveland is, Cole Kmet’s future in Chicago could be up in the air beyond this season.

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On Thursday night, the Chicago Bears selected tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick knowing he was in recovery from an AC joint dislocation he suffered in 2024.

Loveland sustained the injury in Week 3 but played through Michigan’s contest against Northwestern on Nov. 23 before ending his season early due to the issue.

Loveland was hoping to avoid surgery but wound up having a procedure done on Jan. 29. While his doctor was hopeful in February that he could participate (no contact) in OTAs and be fully ready to go by training camp, it appears he’ll miss OTAs.

Chicago Bears TE is out six months from Jan. 29

While speaking with the media on Friday, Loveland said that he would be out six months from the date of his surgery. He can do most activities except for heavy lifting.

“Six months was the timetable,” Loveland said on when he could return to practice after his surgery. “We’re three out right now, and it feels great. I got full range of motion and everything. Can do really everything but just like super heavyweight. So right now we’re in a good spot running–can catch balls.”

Six months would put his return date at July 29, a little after the beginning of training camp.

Colston Loveland played through the injury last season

Loveland played through the injury for most of last season and was frustrated when he found out he’d need surgery months after his season ended.

“Yeah, it was frustration,” Loveland said. “But I’m a believer in God, and I thought, you know, he’s got a plan for me, and this is it’s all gonna work out in the end, which, you know, it did… I was like, week three, I think I sat out the next week, and then kind of just every time you landed on it or catch a ball or block someone, it hurt so but after a couple weeks, it kind of just got better.

“And then, yeah, I didn’t know I needed it (surgery), and then found out how to get it. But all good now.”

Loveland was Michigan’s leading receiver last season with 56 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns. Loveland’s credited his upbringing in Idaho for teaching him the values of hard work and toughness.

Given his production at Michigan playing with an injury, the Bears are getting a blue-collar worker… whenever he can return to the field.

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The Chicago Bears had a lot of fans with their jaws on the floor when they drafted tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick. However, general manager Ryan Poles and the entire organization knew exactly what they were doing.

With Ben Johnson becoming the team’s new head coach, the Bears undoubtedly wanted to add some extra firepower to their offense. Loveland proved to be a versatile tight end over his time with Michigan, becoming a playmaker whenever the ball was in his hands.

Poles had been scouting Loveland far beyond just one season. He saw a player that fits exactly the type of roster Chicago is trying to build. Furthermore, Poles thinks Loveland will give the Bears mismatch opportunities against any defense, via his post first-round press conference.

“Someone that we’re really excited about. Both the coaching staff and front office came together, identifying a guy we really liked and thought had a dynamic skillset that can create mismatches,” Poles said. “He’s someone that pairs well with Cole [Kmet] along with other playmakers and really creates headaches for the defense we go against.

“This kid is physical, he’s tough, he plays the game the right way. When you watch the tape, there’s an energy level that comes with him and it’s infectious to other guys,” Poles continued. “When you really study him in the run game, the blocking is way better than people realize. I know he’s going to add a ton of value to our offense and our entire team.”

Colston Loveland becomes X-factor in Chicago Bears offense

Poles watched a lot of JJ McCarthy’s film with Michigan leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. But what stood out to him most was the play of Loveland. He knew in 2025 he couldn’t miss his opportunity to draft the tight end. From his work as a pass catcher to his run blocking, Poles ultimately selected Loveland for the, “totality of what he can do for us.”

Over his three years with Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023 and was named Second-team All-American in 2024.

While Tyler Warren got most of the TE1 buzz entering the draft, Loveland won over the Bears with his pass-catching ability. Teams will have a difficult time guarding Loveland, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. Furthermore, Loveland is a clear favorite of Johnson’s. Perhaps it’s because he reminds of the head coach of Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta, who Loveland received a comparison to by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

“Talented young tight end with the athletic ability and ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels,” Zierlein wrote. “He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option. His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching. He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands.”

“He will keep filling out his frame but is unlikely to ever become more than average as a blocker,” Zierlein continued. “Colston’s collection of athletic traits and catch talent creates a high ceiling with the opportunity to become a high-volume target and future Pro Bowler.”

Johnson will need to find a way to make Kmet and Loveland successfully co-exist on the gridiron. However, the Bears wouldn’t have used the No. 10 overall pick on the latter if there wasn’t a plan in place. While it may have shocked NFL fans at the time, Poles couldn’t be happier adding Loveland to the roster.

The post Ryan Poles reveals exact reasoning behind Chicago Bears’ Colston Loveland pick appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears took a side in the great tight end debate of 2025.

While much of the conversation entering the NFL Draft came down to whether Michigan’s Colston Loveland, the Bears’ eventual selection with the No. 10 overall pick in the draft, or Penn State’s Tyler Warren would be the first player chosen at the position, turns out there might have been two critical traits that led GM Ryan Poles and Chicago to make the pick they did.

“Loveland’s quick feet and strong hands made him the Wolverines’ top receiving threat,” NFL Media’s Chad Reuter revealed what could be what pushed him across the finish line for the Bears. “Until an injury sidelined him last fall. He’s a physical player who can hold up as a blocker when asked to hit second-level targets.”

If Loveland can be a true three-down tight end, as willing a blocker in the ground-game as he is as a pass-catcher, the Bears are going to have a complete weapon on their hands capable of contributing to the offense in a multitude of ways.

Reuter joined the chorus of praise for Loveland as the Bears’ first-round pick, offering up an “A-” grade for the tight end who lands in Chicago on the heels of catching 117 passes for 1,466 yards with 11 touchdowns through his 39-game career in Ann Arbor.

Chicago Bears’ Ben Johnson thrilled to draft Colston Loveland

When the Bears made the call, and with Loveland on the other end of the phone, Bears head coach Ben Johnson couldn’t contain his excitement.

“You’re exactly what we’re looking for,” Johnson told Loveland.

“We’re cooking with hot grease, man, I’m telling you. Smart, tough, explosive. I know exactly what we’re getting man. It’s beautiful. Let’s go win some games.”

It’s obvious the Bears were looking for a playmaking tight end to help accelerate quarterback Caleb Williams’ development, and that Loveland has the traits to contribute in a big way towards igniting Johnson’s offense, as a rookie this fall.

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The Chicago Bears front office went out and added a new pass catcher to first-year head coach Ben Johnson’s offense on Thursday night. Colston Loveland from Michigan is the newest Bear and the tight end was the first from his position to be taken in the opening round of the draft. The former Wolverine has already received comparisons to Detroit’s Sam LaPorta after being selected, which bodes well for Bears fans.

The second day of the draft is extremely crucial for Chicago’s front office. For the time being, they hold three picks on day two and two of them are in the second round. There are still a few key positions that need reinforcements, and the general manager Ryan Poles is lucky that quite a few first round talents fell out of the top 32 selections. Chicago could take their two second round choices in a few different directions on both sides of the ball.

Chicago Bears round two target: Kaleb Johnson

Kaleb Johnson has been a favorite of Chicago fans as a potential second round pick to add to the team’s backfield for a while now. He dominated the Big Ten this past season and has spent the past three years as an Iowa Hawkeye. Johnson finished the 2024 campaign with 240 carries for 1,537 yards on the ground to go with his 21 touchdowns.

The Bears were unable to make the moves necessary to trade up on Thursday to acquire Ashton Jeanty, so they will have to result to adding backfield depth in day two. Johnson would pair well with veteran D’Andre Swift, as their different rushing styles would create a fun one-two punch next to Caleb Williams.

Two important traits of Johnson’s game that stand out are his explosiveness once he gets to the second level and his ability to set up crucial blocks. Despite being more of a power back, it’s still good that Johnson can accelerate and kick it into another gear once getting beyond the line of scrimmage. The blocking aspect of his game would fit the Chicago Bears perfectly, as Swift doesn’t bring that to the table consistently.

The post 5 Prospects the Chicago Bears should target in the second round appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears drafted tight end Colston Loveland with the intention of finding a long-term weapon for new head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. However, Loveland’s impact in his rookie season could be limited.

Johnson helped turn Sam LaPorta into an elite tight end during his time as the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. He earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season in 2023.

Loveland reminded Johnson of LaPorta, which is why Chicago chose to draft the Michigan stud over Penn State star Tyler Warren.

Loveland has a concerning issue this offseason with his shoulder. He underwent shoulder surgery in January to repair an AC joint dislocation.

Colston Loveland is expected to miss OTAs

During an episode of the “Take The North” podcast, Bears insiders Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer said that Loveland is expected to miss OTAs this spring, which contradicts the rosy timeline his doctor gave in February.

“Back to the injury thing, he played in 10 games this year, the shoulder injury,” Grote said about Loveland missing Michigan’s final two games in 2024. “You’re right, he’s going to miss the OTAs. They (the Bears front office) sounded pretty sure, though, and maybe this is just Loveland the player, you can’t always take it for word.

“It was like, to him, there’s no doubt that he’s going to be ready for training camp. Did you get that sense, Dan, from people that you talk to out there? Because when we hear he’s going to be ready for camp and the OTAs he’s going to miss, that doesn’t always turn out to be the case.”

It wasn’t the case with offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie last year, who missed most of training camp before struggling when the team had to turn to him in the regular season.

Caleb Williams’ chemistry with Loveland depends on the TE’s health

Wiederer said it was too early to tell when Loveland could return to practice. But he said there is a concern that if Loveland missed OTAs and any part of training camp it could alter his chemistry with Williams before Week 1.

“Obviously, you would hope that if he misses any time, it’s a week and then you’re ready to roll as soon as you start getting into things, because you’re going to need him to get some preseason action,” Wiederer said. “You’re going to need him to get some reps at camp. He’s going to have to work on the chemistry with Caleb Williams.

“Like that’s a huge relationship now as part of this offense, as Caleb is trying to get a lot of relationships strengthened and built here this offseason with new faces and familiar friends that he’s got in the building. And so those are things that have to take root sooner rather than later.”

If Loveland misses significant time in the preseason, Poles will face heat for not taking a pick at a premium position with the No. 10 pick, instead grabbing a luxury player with a higher ceiling but lower floor than Warren.

None of that will matter anyway if Loveland makes the Pro Bowl in 2026.

But Poles might not be around for that season if the team isn’t strong enough to compete in the playoffs in 2025, something that will be a tougher task if the No. 10 pick can’t make an impact as a rookie.

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Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

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The Chicago Bears entered the 2025 NFL Draft class with four picks inside the top 75. Holding plenty of valuable draft capital, rumors began to swirl about the Bears trading up. However, Chicago decided to stay put at No. 10 and select tight end Colston Loveland.

Depending on how high they went up the board, the Bears could’ve put themselves in contention for players such as Abdul Carter or Ashton Jeanty. But at the same time, it would’ve cost Chicago a significant amount. The Jacksonville Jaguars gave up a second-rounder and their 2026 first-rounder to go from No. 5 to No. 2. Imagine if the Bears jumped up that high from No. 10?

Still, general manager Ryan Poles was trying to make a move, aggressively picking up the phones as the clock started ticking down. In the end, Poles felt it just, “didn’t make sense,” to trade up the board, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

“When we made those calls up, it took you out,” Poles said. “I briefly mentioned this on Tuesday – there’s a run coming up here that I think you can make a pretty big impact on your football team. To give that up for one person, so giving up two for one – and it probably would’ve been even more than that – it just didn’t make sense.”

Bears GM Ryan Poles on why they didn't trade up pic.twitter.com/8kUp87NQD5

— Dave (@dave_bfr) April 25, 2025

Chicago Bears, Ryan Poles don’t get baited into first-round trade up 

By the time the Bears picked at No. 10, numerous of their top options were already off the board. Will Campbell went No. 4 to the New England Patriots while Jeanty went No. 6 to the Las Vegas Raiders. Then both Armand Membou and Kelvin Banks were selected No. 7 by the New York Jets and No. 9 by the New Orleans Saints respectively.

With the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants open for business, the Bears could’ve theoretically avoided the issue entirely by moving up. But the mammoth offer would’ve completely changed Chicago’s draft plans. While they have a playmaker in Loveland in place, the Bears already are planning how to fill their roster.

Losing Jeanty was a massive blow to the offense; although him even being with the Bears was all theoretical. However, it took Chicago out of the running for a first-round running back; at least at No. 10. With either their No. 39 or No. 41 draft pick, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the franchise use either selection at running back.

The same remains true for both offensive and defensive lines. With Campbell, Membou and Banks off the board, all of Chicago’s top options were gone. They decided Loveland fit their roster better than a player like Mykel Williams or Jalon Walker. Both sides of the trenches still need more fortification. The Bears will certainly be on the look out through the middle rounds.

If Chicago had agreed to a trade up, those possibilities would dry up in a hurry. They’d have a player that many consider elite in the 2025 class. However, they wouldn’t be able to address other areas of roster concern with as high talent of prospects. While the Bears have gotten plenty of hype entering 2025, they’re still coming off of a 5-12 campaign. The team knows they need more than just one player to get back into contention.

Loveland’s selection certainly raised eyebrows on night one. But if Chicago comes through with a versatile and well-rounded draft class, Poles’ decision not to trade up will be heralded.

The post Ryan Poles gets brutally honest on Chicago Bears’ trade up fail appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles filled a pressing need and added a potentially dynamic weapon for quarterback Caleb Williams with the somewhat stunning decision to choose Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft over Penn State’s Tyler Warren.

Warren was widely viewed as the consensus top prospect at the position, and offers the positional versatility of a track record of making plays all over the field, and was eventually chosen by the Indianapolis Colts, after the Bears tabbed Loveland.

Still, Loveland arrives in the Windy City as an elite route runner and on the heels of catching 56 of his 82 targets for 582 yards and five touchdowns as the focal point of the Wolverines’ passing game in what became a run-heavy offense.

Chicago Bears praised for Colston Loveland selection

While the Bears’ selection of Loveland might have caught some by surprised, it’s wholly obvious that Chicago was thrilled to drop him into Williams’ supporting cast, and the selection is drawing high praise in the aftermath of Round 1.

Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic give the Bears an “A” for tabbing Loveland at No. 10 overall.

“We’ve been writing for months that the race for TE1 in this class, between Loveland and Tyler Warren, was closer than many thought,” Baumgardner and Dochterman write. “Loveland reminds me a lot of current Detroit Lions standout Sam LaPorta, only bigger. New Bears coach Ben Johnson absolutely adored LaPorta in Detroit, and Loveland will give Johnson and QB Caleb Williams a legit receiving threat in all areas of the field. Warren is the better blocker of the two prospects, but Loveland is absolutely the better receiver. He’s an outstanding fit for everything Johnson does.”

Given head coach Ben Johnson’s reliance on 12-personnel and how he was able to help develop LaPorta into an All-Pro caliber weapon at the position, the Bears should be optimistic about Loveland’s chances of reaching his potential.

Loveland is an elite route runner who should thrive in the space created by receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze on the perimeter, and his presence in the offense just might be exactly what Williams needs to make major strides in his development, as well.

It’s early, and Loveland hasn’t even played a snap of a rookie minicamp practice yet, but the accolades–and excitement for his selection are rolling in.

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The Chicago Bears shocked the NFL world when they selected tight end Colston Loveland with their No. 10 overall pick. But for new head coach Ben Johnson, Loveland was at the top of his big board.

The Bears had been heavily tied to fellow tight end Tyler Warren during the pre-draft process and he was available at their pick. However, the franchise decided they liked what Loveland brings to the table more. Now, the versatile pass catcher will take on a focal role in Johnson’s new offense.

Whenever a team drafts a player, the front office and coaching staff call the prospect to welcome them to the organization. Both general manager Ryan Poles and Johnson were hyped up giving Loveland his draft call. The head coach sent a message to the tight end about his expectations enter his rookie season. Needless to say, Johnson couldn’t be more amped about the selection, via the team’s Instagram account.

“You’re exactly what we’re looking for,” Johnson told Loveland.

“We’re cooking with hot grease, man, I’m telling you. Smart, tough, explosive. I know exactly what we’re getting man. It’s beautiful. Let’s go win some games.”

Loveland marked Johnson’s first pick as head coach. The tight end was honored and already ready to join the Bears.

“I can’t wait to be a Bear,” Loveland said.

Colston Loveland becomes Ben Johnson’s latest weapon

Bears fans should get used to hearing the comparison between Loveland and Sam LaPorta. Johnson found a way to implement the tight end into the offense immediately and help him become one of the biggest stars at the position. If Johnson can do the same for Loveland, no one will be laughing at the Bears’ selection.

Still, that’ll be lofty expectations for Loveland to reach, especially as a rookie. During LaPorta’s rookie season, he caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. With Cole Kmet on the roster, the Bears will likely have a more balanced approach. However, Chicago didn’t use the No. 10 pick on Loveland for him to sit on the bench. Johnson will now be tasked with molding him in his vision and helping him become a key piece of the offense.

During his three years and 39 game at Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023 before setting new career-highs in receptions and touchdowns (five in 2024. Loveland ended his run at Michigan as a Second-team All-American nominee.

While he plays tight end, Loveland operates more as a big bodied wide receiver. He has the speed to get past linebackers and the physicality to battle for the ball. Having Kmet available in the short game with Loveland as an intermediate option gives the Bears a much more dynamic passing offense. Add in DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and as Johnson put it, Chicago is “cooking with grease.”

Of course, the Bears will need to prove it on the gridiron. Johnson ran plenty of two-tight end sets with the Detroit Lions, but will it work in the Windy City? After using their No. 10 overall pick on Loveland, Johnson and the Bears are counting on it.

The post Ben Johnson’s immediate 6-word message to Chicago Bears’ first-round pick appeared first on ChiCitySports.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles described tight end Colston Loveland as “Idaho tough.” Loveland played high school football in Gooding, Idaho, and used to put up fences in his home state before playing football for the Michigan Wolverines.

While the Bears hope Loveland can show his toughness on the field in the upcoming season, the No. 10 pick on Thursday night is recovering from an AC joint (shoulder) injury that ended his season two games early in 2024.

Loveland’s recovery timeline will be something to keep an eye on this spring and summer because it appears to have changed from what his doctor wrote in February.

Colston Loveland had surgery in January

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dr. Neal Elattrache wrote during the scouting combine that Loveland had successful surgery on Jan. 29 to repair the AC joint dislocation.

“I anticipate that he will be able to run, sprint, and run pass patterns without contact by mini-camp and that he will be cleared for team drills and unrestricted football activities by the 2025 NFL preseason camp,” Elattrache wrote.

In a letter sent today to all 32 teams, Dr. Neal Elattrache wrote that he expects Michigan TE and projected first-round pick Colston Loveland to be ready to participate in minicamp and fully cleared for training camp despite undergoing surgery on his right shoulder last month. pic.twitter.com/8DN8Cz9e37

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 25, 2025

It’s unclear if Loveland will participate in the Bears’ rookie minicamp in May. Poles didn’t talk about the injury on Thursday night, but Bears senior director of player personnel Jeff King said the Bears felt good about Loveland’s availability for training camp.

That wasn’t the most reassuring comment the Bears could give.

Loveland not expected for Chicago Bears OTAs

Per former Bears scout Greg Gabriel, Loveland isn’t expected to participate in OTAs this spring.

“Loveland is coming off a shoulder surgery and won’t participate in OTA’s, he should be ready for the start of camp,” Gabriel posted on X.

Loveland is coming off a shoulder surgery and won’t participate in OTA’s, he should be ready for the start of camp

— Greg Gabriel (@ggabefootball) April 25, 2025

The Bears had uncertainty about offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie’s return from a quadriceps injury after they prematurely reached for him in the third round of last year’s draft. He was expected to be healthy by the start of training camp but could not practice until Aug 22, something that was necessary to get the rookie up to speed before learning during the regular season.

The Bears’ offensive line suffered because Amegadjie’s delay in returning to the practice field. When he came onto the field because of injuries to the offensive line, Amegadjie looked unprepared and allowed defensive ends to blow by him.

Hopefully, Loveland will not be a repeat this year.

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Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at jordanmsigler@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks.

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It was no secret that the Chicago Bears were going to add to their offense at some point in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, not many expected the answer to be tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick.

The selection has new head coach Ben Johnson written all over it. He undoubtedly is trying to re-create the spark that made the Detroit Lions offensive juggernauts. By selecting Loveland with fellow tight end Tyler Warren still on the board, Johnson made a major statement. He believes Loveland is the better fit for his and the Bears’ offense.

Now, it’ll be up to Loveland to justify the No. 10 overall selection. He couldn’t be more excited to find his role in Johnson’s offense, via Marquee Sports Network.

“Just love the guy. Before I even met him, just watching Detroit last season, the things they were doing, man, really smart,” Loveland said. “He knows what he’s doing, knows football. Finally being able to talk with him and meet with him and kind of pick his brain, No. 1 fan of that guy for sure. He’s legit, he’s a stud. I can’t wait to be under that, I know he’s going to put us in great positions for Chicago and great positions to win games. I’m just super excited for it.”

"Really smart, knows what he's doing, loves football."

Colston Loveland on Bears head coach Ben Johnson. pic.twitter.com/HJQptmoRw0

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 25, 2025

Ben Johnson get intriguing weapon in Colston Loveland

In his final season with the Lions, Johnson helped Detroit finish second in offense, averaging 409.5 yards per game. In turn, Chicago finished dead last, averaging just 284.6 YPG. The Bears won’t become offensive world beaters over night, but it at least shows their ceiling if Johnson can replicate his magic.

With the Lions, Johnson had an elite weapon at tight end in Sam LaPorta. During the 2024 season, he caught 60 passes for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. LaPorta was even scarier as a rookie, catching 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. Loveland and LaPorta are two completely different players, but it’s clear Johnson values the tight end. And by using the No. 10 pick on him, Johnson values Loveland specifically.

Over his three years and 39 games with Michigan, Loveland caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before being named a Second-team All-American in 2024 after catching a career-high 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns.

With Cole Kmet still on the roster, the Bears will need to figure out exactly where Loveland fits. However, Johnson was known to run plenty of two-tight end personnel during his time with the Lions. Surely the head coach is concocting a plan to have both of them shine on the gridiron.

The Bears will continue to get questions about their Loveland selection leading up to Week 1. But if the tight end develops into the player Chicago is expecting, the doubters will be silenced immediately.

The post Colston Loveland’s immediate reaction to playing under Ben Johnson on Chicago Bears appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Bears bolstered their passing attack by selecting tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While it may not have been the pick fans expected, Loveland will still be a major target for quarterback Caleb Williams throughout the 2025 campaign.

As Ben Johnson steps into his new role as head coach, his main goal will be helping Williams reach his No. 1 overall pick ceiling. No matter who Chicago took at No. 10, it’d be a moot point if their quarterback doesn’t show massive growth. However, Loveland is expected to amplify Williams’ passing options and overall make the Bears more versatile on offense.

It didn’t take long for quarterback and tight end to begin building their connection. Before the glow has even faded of Loveland being drafted, the tight end confirmed that Williams had already contacted him, via Adam Jahns of The Athletic.

New Bears TE Colston Loveland said that he's already received a call from QB Caleb Williams.

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) April 25, 2025

Loveland had nothing but praise for Williams, nothing he admired watching him play college football, via Zach Pearson of BearReport.

“Stud. Loved watching his game throughout college,” Loveland said. “He’s that man.”

Colston Loveland on Caleb Williams:

"Stud. Love watching his game throughout college. He's that man."#Bears

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) April 25, 2025

Chicago Bears give Caleb Williams new weapon 

The Bears already have Cole Kmet on the roster, but Johnson was known for running plenty of two-tight end personnel with the Detroit Lions. It’s clear that the head coach envisions a roster where both tight ends succeed. Furthermore, the fact Loveland was the pick over Warren shows Johnson feels the former Michigan Wolverine is a better fit in the offense.

Loveland appeared in 39 games over his three years at Michigan, catching 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship in 2023 before ending his time with the Wolverines by earning Second-team All-American nods after setting new career-highs in receptions (56) and touchdown grabs (five).

The tight end is much more athletic than others at the position. His speed and tenacity allows Loveland to gain extra yardage in the middle of the field or make plays in open space. Overall, the addition of Loveland is expected to add another explosive element to Chicago’s offense.

Hiring Johnson was the first step, but the Bears knew they needed to make numerous changes to their offensive gameplan entering 2025. They ended their 2024 season ranked dead last in total offense, averaging 284.6 yards per game. Their passing attack ranked second-to-last, averaging 181.5 YPG.

Loveland will certainly need to prove himself, especially after being selected with Warren still on the board. But the Bears wanted more firepower on their offense, and Johnson found it in Loveland. Williams can’t wait to get to work with his new pass catcher.

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The Chicago Bears used the 10th overall pick in the 2025 draft to select tight end Colston Loveland from Michigan. Even though there were rumblings of Chicago looking to trade up or down in what is an interesting class, they stand pat at 10 and get their guy.

The front office chose to pass on Tyler Warren and any of the available offensive line talent to snag a pass catcher to add even more depth to first-year head coach Ben Johnson’s group. Loveland spent three seasons as a Wolverine and saw his game grow in each of his years in Ann Arbor. Even though it wasn’t necessarily a position of need for the Bears, fans can get excited about the potential that he brings to the table.

What Chicago Bears fans need to know about Colston Loveland

Loveland is a six-foot-five, 245-pound tight end who received a high overall grade from the NFL.com Next Gen prospect profile done on him. He earned a 6.70 grade, which puts him in the grouping of being a year one starter. His overall Next Gen score came out to an 84, which is good among all prospects, and he scored particularly high in the production department with an 86 being his score there.

The consensus around Loveland is that he is the top pure pass-catching tight end in the draft class, especially with what he showed at Michigan this past season. Loveland finished the campaign with 56 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. His most popular pro comp is Sam LaPorta, which is fitting with Johnson coming over from the Lions and having worked with LaPorta for the past two seasons.

When looking at Loveland’s fit in Chicago, seeing what LaPorta has done in Johnson’s system for the past two years is all you need to know. Even though Johnson said the playbook and the offense as a whole would be ripped down to the studs and built up around Caleb Williams, having similar players to what he had in Detroit is certainly a luxury.

Having Colston Loveland means the Chicago Bears won’t add a WR

In theory, the Bears could look to add a receiver later on in the draft for depth purposes, but Loveland instantly becomes a major part of the offense moving forward. Between him, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet, Chicago appears to have their primary weapons in place for Williams as he prepares for his second NFL season.

Loveland can definitely be put out wide frequently if that’s what Johnson sees for him, with Kmet sticking in the more traditional tight end role at the line of scrimmage as a potential extra blocker in certain packages. With Kmet still under contract for two more years following the extension he signed, the Bears must have a plan in place to make it work with two tight ends in their system for the time being.

With how the board shook out, this is a win for the Bears’ front office. They didn’t pay to move up, and they got a guy they were more than fine with having in their offense down the road. Williams has another option to look to on the outside as a new era is underway in the Windy City.

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The Chicago Bears have added an additional weapon for head coach Ben Johnson’s offense. Chicago selected Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

The former Michigan Wolverine is a dynamic pass-catcher and is expected to be a huge complement to Cole Kmet in a two-tight-end 12-personnel set. The newest addition to Chicago’s offense met with local media on Thursday night and revealed that Johnson said he reminds him of a Detroit Lions star.

The Chicago Bears wanted a new Sam LaPorta

In a post on X, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin has revealed that the Bears’ head coach told Loveland that he reminds him of 2023 Pro Bowl tight end Sam LaPorta.

“Colston Loveland said that Ben Johnson told him that he reminds him “a lot” of Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta and expressed a desire to use him in the Bears offense similarly to how LaPorta was used for the Lions.”

Colston Loveland said that Ben Johnson told him that he reminds him "a lot" of Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta and expressed a desire to use him in the Bears offense similarly to how LaPorta was used for the Lions.

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 25, 2025

Loveland also explained LaPorta is one of his favorite tight ends to watch in the NFL. It seems that Loveland could have mentioned LaPorta as a way to show Johnson that he is highly interested in playing for him in Chicago. It seems that the Michigan star has been angling to join the Bears since meeting with Johnson.

Via CHGO Bears:

“Does Colston Loveland see any of Sam LaPorta’s game in himself?

“That’s what [Ben Johnson] told me after the meeting. They asked me who my favorite tight ends to watch were, and I put Sam LaPorta in there.”

Loveland said Johnson told him: “Yeah, you remind me a lot of him.”

Does Colston Loveland see any of Sam LaPorta's game in himself?

"That's what [Ben Johnson] told me after the meeting. They asked me who my favorite tight ends to watch were, and I put Sam LaPorta in there."

Loveland said Johnson told him: "Yeah, you remind me a lot of him."

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) April 25, 2025

Colston Loveland is an instant fit for Ben Johnson’s offense

The 6-foot-6 powerhouse has many similarities to LaPorta. Loveland is known for great route-running skills and is exceptional in the passing game. Loveland is an exceptional athlete and should be able to fit in Johnson’s system.

The Bears head coach was well known for utilizing two tight end sets frequently when calling plays in Detroit, and it looks like that will be the same way in Chicago.

It will be interesting to see how the Bears will utilize the 10th overall pick in 2025.

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The Chicago Bears shocked the NFL world by selecting tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft. With Cole Kmet already on their roster, the Bears now have two intriguing pass catchers at the tight end position.

Chicago selected Loveland despite fellow tight end Tyler Warren – who many believed to be the consensus top option – still being on the board. As Ben Johnson steps into his new role as head coach, he clearly believes Loveland is a better fit for the offense. But now, Chicago is paying a premium price for their tight end duo.

Kmet is set to count for nearly $12 million against the cap in 2025. And once Loveland signs his rookie deal, he’ll be making nearly $30 million over his first four years with the team, via Spotrac.

As the #10 overall pick, TE Colston Loveland's #Bears contract should come in around

– 4 years, $26.6M
– $16M signing bonus
– fully guaranteed
– 2029 5th-year optionhttps://t.co/T0EwSXr9ZB

— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 25, 2025

Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet form Chicago Bears tandem 

Loveland spent three years at Michigan, appearing in 39 games. The tight end caught 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. Loveland won a national championship with Michigan in 2023, setting a new career-high with 649 yards. In 2024, the tight end set new career-bests in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five) while earning Second-team All-American honors.

Loveland brings a different level of athleticism to the tight end position. Furthermore, he offers Williams a key safety blanket in the middle of the field if DJ Moore and Rome Odunze are covered. Loveland proved he can make a big play whenever he has the ball in open space. Johnson helped Sam LaPorta become an elite tight end with the Detroit Lions. And as LaPorta enters the NFL, he received a comparison to LaPorta from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.

But the Bears won’t soon forget about Kmet. He is coming off of a down season, but so is everyone in Chicago’s offense. Kmet set a new career-high with seven touchdowns in 2022 before putting up a career-best 719 yards, with another six touchdowns in 2023. Kmet is still a dangerous threat in the red zone and will remain a valuable part of the passing attack.

Loveland’s selection shows that Johnson plans to run plenty of 12 personnel in Chicago. He was known for his double tight end attack in Detroit. Now, the Bears are hoping Loveland and Kmet give the offense a dynamic force not many other offenses in the league possess.

But Chicago will certainly be paying a premium. The team is getting some flack for using the No. 10 overall pick on Loveland. But the Bears can quiet the doubters quickly if the tight end becomes a force in Johnson’s offense.

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The Chicago Bears made a surprise pick at No. 10 at the 2025 NFL Draft at Green Bay, Wisconsin on Thursday night. The Bears watched as one of their preferred targets, running back Ashton Jeanty, was snagged by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6.

When the Bears were on the clock, general manager Ryan Poles chose to select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland was projected to be a first-round pick in this class, but Tyler Warren was the clear favorite tight end in this draft by most scouts and analysts.

Warren won the John Mackey Award in 2024 for being the best tight end in college football.

The Chicago Bears were worried about the fit

Per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Bears senior player personnel director Jeff King explained why Poles took Loveland over Warren.

The Bears deemed Loveland a “better fit” than Warren.

Via Finley on X:

“Bears senior player personnel director Jeff King said Penn State TE Tyler Warren will be a good player but Colston Loveland “was the best fit for us.”

#Bears senior player personnel director Jeff King said Penn State TE Tyler Warren will be a good player but Colston Loveland "was the best fit for us."

— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) April 25, 2025

Loveland recorded 117 receptions for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns for Michigan in his three years at the college level. Warren recorded eight touchdowns last season compared to Loveland’s five.

Per Zack Pearson of Bear Report, King said Warren fits with the team for several reasons.

“Tough. Smart. Has a presence. Competitive,” King said. “All the things we are trying to build here, he encompasses that as a person.”

Colston Loveland is recovering from surgery

During the scouting combine, Loveland’s doctor wrote a letter to all NFL GMs letting them know that the athlete had shoulder surgery in January. He was expected to be cleared for OTAs and training camp.

Per Person, King suggested the Bears might have a new timeline for Loveland’s return to the practice field. Chicago hopes he’s ready to go by training camp.

Via Pearson:

“‘We feel good about it.‘ – Jeff King on Colston Loveland’s shoulder and if he will be ready for training camp.”

A healthy Warren was drafted by the Colts at No. 14.

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The 2025 NFL Draft is underway, and the excitement is just beginning.

The Chicago Bears have selected Colston Loveland, tight end from Michigan, with the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft. With almost every scout and media personality believing that Tyler Warren would be the first tight end off the board, this is one of the more shocking selections thus far.

Many thought the Bears would select a playmaker at this spot, or even trade back if Ashton Jeanty or Warren weren’t available. Loveland must’ve been on GM Ryan Poles’ radar during most of this process, so credit to him for keeping it quiet.

The Chicago Bears select TE Colston Loveland, Michigan, 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft

While this selection is shocking, Loveland was a very productive player in a run-heavy offense at Michigan. In his Junior season, Loveland caught 56 passes for 582 yards and racked up 5 touchdowns. His measurements are very solid, listing 6 foot-6 at 248 pounds, with 32 3/4″ arms and 10″ hands.

Loveland is also a proven winner, as he was a part of the 2024 National Championship team in Ann Arbor. He’s also a very good run blocker, probably better than Warren in that regard, so it’s understandable if the Bears prioritized that.

As a pass catcher, Loveland is decently fast and looks to be a great route-runner. Lining him up with Cole Kmet could be scary for NFC North defenses.

Chicago Bears fans react on social media to Colston Loveland selection

The Michigan Wolverines have produced legit NFL talent for decades, and Loveland seems like a tough kid who could fit perfectly in this Ben Johnson offense. With Cole Kmet as TE1, it will be interesting to see how Johnson approaches this duel-tight end threat.

Hopefully, Loveland can take some pressure off Caleb Williams as well. He’s solid in pass protection, but as a vertical threat next to Kmet, he could take this offense to a new level.

On social media, many Chicago Bears fans across the platform X shared many different opinions regarding the pick.

I had Colston Loveland as my number 1 overall prospect in this draft.

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 25, 2025

you know a pick is good when Bears fans hate it, welcome Colston Loveland

— ryan maye (@ryanolsonn) April 25, 2025

Colston Loveland wasn’t a name I expected but I 100% trust Ben Johnson to unlock Loveland’s potential. I like what I see
pic.twitter.com/gSzjxhFwS4

— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) April 25, 2025

Before Warren they’re cooked

— CFBTalkDaily (@CFBTalkDaily) April 25, 2025

Should have taken Warren

— Tim DeSchriver (@TimDeSchriver) April 25, 2025

I'm just dumbfounded the Bears took Colston Loveland over him.

If I'm Cole Kmet, I'm demanding a trade out.

— DaRealConMan (@0604Reynolds) April 25, 2025

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The Chicago Bears added a weapon to quarterback Caleb Williams’ arsenal, and a potentially dynamic piece of the puzzle in head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme, selecting former Michigan tight end Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Loveland, 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds, was one of the focal points of the Wolverines’ passing game while hauling in 56 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Given Johnson’s track record of turning Sam LaPorta into an All-Pro caliber pass-catcher in Detroit, Loveland walks into a situation where he has the chance to not just thrive in two-tight end sets along with Cole Kmet but climb Williams’ target hierarchy as a potent weapon.

Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland NFL Draft scouting report

Along with Tyler Warren, Loveland was viewed as one of the top prizes of a very strong tight end class, and it’s easy to see why.

“Talented young tight end with the athletic ability,” Lance Zierlein writes for NFL Media. “And ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels. He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option. His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching. He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands.”

Pro Football Focus points out that Loveland posted an elite 90.6 receiving grade, which, thanks to his reliable hands, likely pushed him up the Bears’ board in efforts to help Williams. Likewise, he has the traits of a field-stretcher that should complement receivers D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze well.

“Loveland can operate as a traditional in-line and/or the pass-catching move tight end,” according to the Bleacher Report Scouting Department. “In both the run and passing games. That versatility will help him NFL offensive coordinators create a game plan for him within the offense. Loveland succeeds in running routes from multiple alignments and will put defenses in a bind, determining what type of defender should handle him as their assignment. Linebackers and nickel corners are too small to combat with him at the catch point, while outside cornerbacks covering creates a mismatch elsewhere.”

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Of all the players available in the 2025 NFL Draft, tight end Tyler Warren has been amongst the ones drawing the most buzz as potential Chicago Bears targets. With Ben Johnson stepping into his new role as head coach, Warren would give him an intriguing weapon to implement in the pass game.

However, the tight end is considered the consensus best option in the 2025 class. There’s a solid chance that he won’t be available when the Bears are on the clock at No. 10. With Cole Kmet already on the roster, it would seem unlikely that Chicago would still target tight end with their selection.

Not according to Todd McShay of The Ringer. If Warren is off the board, McShay said he wouldn’t be shocked if the Bears draft fellow tight end Colston Loveland.

“Call me in October when your young quarterback who had all that trouble last year has a new coach that can cook up some schemes in the lab and utilize those tight ends,” McShay said. “Now we are in 12-personnel, now we are a headache.”

Chicago Bears go all-in on tight end 

The idea of Warren joining the Bears is more of a ‘best player available’ approach rather than a full-on need. With respect to Travis Hunter, Warren may be the best pass catcher and offensive pass catcher in the 2025 class. And after seeing Brock Bowers dominate with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, NFL franchises want to get their opportunity to land an elite tight end.

Adding Warren to the roster makes total sense. His final season at Penn State saw him lead the Big Ten with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He was named the John Mackey Award winner. Overall, Warren is the exact type of playmaker that Johnson is looking for.

However, Kmet is not a ghost in Chicago. He had a poor 2024 season, catching 47 passes for 474 yards and four yards. However, everyone on the Bears’ offense struggled in 2024. Kmet set a new career-high in touchdown grabs with seven in 2022 and a new-career high in receiving yards with 719 in 2023. Johnson has already committed to Kmet having a strong role in the offense.

Perhaps the Bears are truly committed to running 12 personnel often in 2025. In that case, a player like Loveland would make total sense. But if Warren is off the board, it’d be a surprise to see Chicago continue to target tight end with Kmet still around.

What Colston Loveland offers Bears 

Despite that, no one is doubting what Loveland brings to the table. He has been outshined slightly by Warren, but Loveland is surely the top tight end on at least a few team’s boards. He isn’t going to have to wait long to hear his name called in the first round.

Loveland appeared in 39 games over his three years with Michigan, catching 117 passes for 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He won a national championship with the Wolverines in 2023, setting a new career-high in yardage at 649. Loveland then ended his time at Michigan as a Second-team All-American and setting new career-bests in receptions (56) and touchdowns (five).

The tight end offers any team a versatile threat in the passing game. While the opposing defenses will be focused on the receivers, Loveland can do damage in space. By using a first-round pick on him, any team selecting Loveland is expecting him to have an immediate role in the offense. Furthermore, Loveland earned a comparison to current Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.

“Talented young tight end with the athletic ability and ball skills to become an elite talent as a pass catcher. Colston plays the game like a big wideout, capable of separating from man coverage and making plays on all three levels,” Zierlein wrote. “He has good play speed and runs a route tree full of branches, allowing creative play-callers to move him around as a mismatch option. His routes can be a little hurried and lacking in detail but that should change with coaching. He’s graceful in-air and catches the ball with good timing and strong hands.”

“He will keep filling out his frame but is unlikely to ever become more than average as a blocker. Colston’s collection of athletic traits and catch talent creates a high ceiling with the opportunity to become a high-volume target and future Pro Bowler,” Zierlein concluded.

Loveland hasn’t gotten in the top 10 much in industry-wide mock drafts. But at least to McShay, he sees a fit with the Bears at No. 10.

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