Tom Brady’ subtle comment about Colston Loveland should give Bears’ fans one silver lining to appreciate after Week 18 loss
The GOAT had high praise for the Bears’ rookie tight end.
There wasn’t a lot of good to take away from the Chicago Bears’ loss to the Detroit Lions to cap off the regular season beyond the fact that now the page can turn to the playoffs with plenty of teach tape to evaluate before the wild card game.
If there was one silver lining from that game Bears’ fans should appreciate, it was the play of the team’s rookie play-makers. It’s a similar reaction to how these losses went in 2024 with wide receiver Rome Odunze, a player I referred to as Mr. Silver Lining during his rookie season.
Tight end Colston Loveland and wide receivers Luther Burden III and Jahdae Walker shined once again and have really emerged as consistent weapons for this offense. The three rookies accounted for 172 total yards in the loss and Loveland especially looked like a real standout. He even earned some high praise from the GOAT Tom Brady, who was commentating the game on Sunday.
Tom Brady refers to Colston Loveland as a ‘little mini Gronk’ during Week 18 loss
“It’s like a great tight end I had, a little mini Gronk,” Brady said of Loveland during the game on Sunday. “Big enough, blocks in the run game – which I really appreciate about these tight ends, tight ends that just catch passes end up being glorified slot receivers.”
It was a subtle comment but it means a lot and shows Brady sees the same kind of potential the Bears see in their first-round tight end. Hearing Brady compare a tight end to Rob Gronkowski is notable and not something to just brush off.
Loveland’s career is getting off to a hot start as the season continues and Sunday’s game was another career-night for the rookie, leading the team with 13 targets, 10 receptions, and 91 receiving yards.
“He knows what to do, he’s got outstanding hands, he works his tail off,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said of Loveland after the game. “He’s usually the first one on the practice field, he’s usually the last one to leave. There’s just been immense trust level and his route tree has grown accordingly.”
Caleb Williams is developing a strong connection with Loveland that can last for years
Going back to the Gronk comparison, part of what made Gronk so dominant is being able to play his entire career with Brady as his quarterback. Not to take anything away from Gronk, because he was a special talent with a first-class work ethic. But, having that connection with your quarterback is invaluable when you have that many years playing and growing together.
That’s something the Bears could have in quarterback Caleb Williams and Loveland. You’ve seen that connection continue to form throughout this season and now it’s to the point where Loveland has been Williams’ go-to guy with Odunze sidelined.
“I got faith and believe in all of our guys, but just speaking on him, he’s done a great job since we’ve been together,” Williams said after the game. “We got to keep that going and we gotta keep growing.”
The young offensive nucleus the Bears have put together the last two seasons is super encouraging for the future because these guys are just getting started. And it’s clear everyone can see the Bears have found something special in their rookie first-round tight end.
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