Colston Loveland sends clear message on Year 2 goals and it reveals why the Bears may have only scratched the surface of his potential
Chicago Bears second-year tight end Colston Loveland exploded onto the season during the second-half of the 2025-26 season. His assessment? It was good for a rookie as he aims to accomplish even more.
The Chicago Bears pulled an absolute diamond in the 2025 NFL Draft when the team made tight end Colston Loveland the first draft pick of the Ben Johnson Era with the 10th overall pick in the first-round.
Expectations were high for what Loveland could bring to this offense, and while it took some time to get going, Loveland exceeded all of those high bars the team set for him in year one.
Loveland finished his rookie season with a team-high 58 receptions, 713 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns while becoming a dependable target for quarterback Caleb Williams and a big time player in clutch moments. The best part, he’s only getting started.
Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland aims to accomplish even more in Year 2
“I think it’s watching the tape and knowing it was good for a rookie, but it’s not going to be good enough for a second-year or third-year guy,” Loveland told reporters Tuesday after practice. “So knowing that, all right, flush that, clean up on the tape, and the certain things that I need to get better at, which is dang near everything.”
That’s certainly a humble assessment from Loveland but exactly the kind of mindset that proves he has what it takes to become a top tight end in this league. It’s something he can accomplish as soon as this season. Just look at where his rookie stats ranked among the top tight ends, including his production in the postseason when he really got going.
- Targets: 106 (T-4th)
- Receptions: 70 (9th)
- Receiving Yards: 906 (3rd)
- Receiving TDs: 6 (T-10th)
- First downs: 44 (5th)
With another jump, Loveland will easily be in contention for Pro Bowl honors this upcoming season and potentially even All-Pro consideration if the jump is as high as many believe it could be.
For Loveland, he’s not concerned in the slightest about any of those personal accolades.
“Like I’ve always said, it’s about what the team needs and what the coaching staff needs,” Loveland said. “And whatever position I’m put in, I’m going to accept that role and attack that role and do what I’m asked. And if that means going over 1,000, if it means going under 400, as long as we’re winning games and getting the main goal and keeping the main thing the main thing.”
Full trust from the coaching staff and his teammates
Trust was hard for Loveland to develop last season after recovering from an offseason shoulder surgery that slowed his initial development within the scheme. Over time, that trust was earned in a big way and now he’s had the opportunity to actually have a real offseason and make forward strides.
“I love what he brings to the table,” head coach Ben Johnson said. “He’s one of the most consistent players I’ve been around, and that’s saying a lot for a young guy, because I think it takes a while before guys can truly understand what it means to be a professional. But he’s in early, he’s always in his playbook, he’s always taking notes. I think he really thrives with being available in the pressure moments. That’s the type of guy that he wants to be.”
It’s not just the coaching staff taking notice of Loveland’s offseason routine and the professional level at which he carries himself. Loveland’s approach has impressed even veteran wide receiver Kalif Raymond, who just joined the team a few months ago.
“That’s the kind of guy you want next to you when it’s the fourth quarter, two minutes on the line, and you’re trying to have some change and you’re trying to score touchdowns, score points,” Raymond said. “So you’ve got those kind of guys. I’m not worried about Colston when it’s 100 JUGS in on the fourth day in a row and it’s two minutes in the fourth quarter, because he already put the work in.”
That day-to-day consistency is what builds that long-term trust, not just from the coaching staff but from the entire team. It’s a sign that the Bears can continue taking Loveland’s game to that next level and he will fully embrace the challenge.
“A lot of trust with the coaching staff, with the quarterbacks. So I’m really happy with where he’s at right now,” Johnson added. “We’ve been able to take the route tree to the next level, and it’s something we’re going to continue to develop in training camp as well.”
For Loveland, there’s no secret sauce or hidden routine when asked by reporters what consistency looks like and means to him.
“I’d say being consistent is coming in, you’re gonna feel good, feel bad, have different days, obviously, but I think it’s just not letting anyone know that, and then continuing to do what you do,” Loveland explained. “And Ben always says it, ‘just one percent better. Be better than we were yesterday.’”
If Loveland can continue getting just one percent better every day, the Bears will find themselves with a superstar in the making on offense, something that can materialize as soon as this upcoming season.