‘Poised to take that title’ — Bears TE Colston Loveland is gaining heavy respect as one of the top players at his position
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland ended his rookie season as the team’s top pass catcher and is quickly developing into one of the league’s best at his position, a title he could claim as soon as this upcoming season.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland turned into an instant success in just one season after being drafted by the team with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
It wasn’t an immediate impact, partly due to an offseason shoulder surgery that limited his early progress in the offense. But, by the end of the season, Loveland finished as the team’s top pass catcher and most dependable play-maker when it mattered most.
The Bears expected this kind of impact from Loveland but I don’t think anyone imagined everything coming together so quickly for the 22-year-old. And now, Loveland has a chance to prove he’s potentially the best player at his position going into Year 2.
Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland is already being viewed as possibly the best overall TE in the league
The tight end wave is in full swing for the NFL, something that started picking up steam last season and really amped up this offseason. Chicago’s decision to draft one with a top ten pick and then drafting another the following year in the third-round proves head coach Ben Johnson is well ahead of the curve.
But, with Loveland, the Bears really have something special brewing. He’s a matchup nightmare with his size and speed combo but what really makes him impossible to take off the field is his blocking ability, a skill that improved greatly throughout his rookie year. With all of those attributes, it’s easy to see how Loveland could be one of the best players at his position this upcoming season.
“For a while, George Kittle was the only tight end truly elite at both. Colston Loveland is poised to take that title,” Ted Nguyen of The Athletic wrote. “Maybe it’s still too early to pass that mantle to Loveland, but Kittle is 32 and coming off an Achilles injury in an NFC wild-card game. As hard as Kittle works and takes care of his body, it’s fair to question how quickly he returns to form.”
Can Colston Loveland really be the top TE in the NFL?
The best tight end in football debate is a lively one going into the 2026 season. First-team All-Pro tight end Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals will always have a compelling case for years to come. Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers is well on his way to earning a record-breaking contract. And then you have the ever-reliable veterans in Kittle and Travis Kelce, although injuries and age are starting to catch up to them both.
As great as McBride and Bowers are as pass catchers, the blocking aspect is an area both players can still improve at. Kittle, for example, is still one of the top blocking tight ends while being a top receiving threat for his offense when healthy. Putting Loveland in the same conversation as the seven-time Pro Bowler is mighty high praise.
“Last season, Kittle led the league for tight ends in yards per route run (2.18). Loveland finished second (1.86) but — as with most rookie tight ends — had a slow start. In his final six games, Loveland averaged 2.42 yards per route run,” Nguyen added. “With more experience and (QB Caleb)Williams entering his second year in Ben Johnson’s offense, Loveland could well be the most productive receiving tight end in the league and be even better as a blocker.”
To add more to this argument for Loveland’s case, Johnson said the team is still working to develop and expand his route tree. Plus he has a top quarterback throwing him the ball as the first-read while being a clutch player in big moments.
Expectations are justifiably high for what Loveland can do in Year 2. Pro Bowl honors should honestly be the floor for what to expect. Claiming the title as the best TE in the league is an attainable ceiling.