Bears rookie Colston Loveland ends 2025 season in rare company

Despite a slow start to his first season in the NFL, Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland finished the 2025 regular season as one of the most impressive young players in the NFL.

The 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft looked like he was headed down a path toward bust status after the first month or so of the season. But once his opportunities to make plays for Caleb Williams and the offense expanded, he delivered in a big way.

The result? Loveland totaled 58 catches for 713 yards and six touchdowns. He became the first Bears’ rookie to lead the team in receptions since Willie Gault did it in 1983.

Even better? Loveland is the first rookie tight end to lead Chicago in catches since the great Mike Ditka in 1961.

MORE: Bears’ 2026 schedule presents a major challenge

Colston Loveland earning high praise across the NFL

Loveland had his best day as a pro in the Chicago Bears’ season finale against the Detroit Lions. He snagged 10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, and looked every bit the part of a young Rob Gronkowski for Williams.

Colston Loveland joined Brock Bowers as the only rookie tight ends in NFL history to post 10 or more receptions in a game before turning 22 years old, too.

“They’ve got a lot of time on task now at this point,” Ben Johnson said of Williams and Loveland’s connection after the 49ers game. “They spend a lot of time after practice perfecting their craft just the two of them and it’s really starting to pay off for us.”

Loveland has taken advantage of his increased targets while Rome Odunze recovers from a stress fracture. Odunze has missed the last five games, and it’s been Loveland who’s stepped up as Caleb Williams’ big-bodied security blanket in his absence.

The Chicago Bears’ future is blindingly bright at this point. With Loveland, Odunze, and Luther Burden III catching passes from Williams for years to come, get used to Chicago having one of the NFL’s best offenses for quite some time.

Subscribe to the BearsTalk Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Spreaker, or wherever you get your podcasts from.