Selected by the Bears with the 10th overall pick in the draft, tight end Colston Loveland blossomed into a key contributor in 2025, consistently producing impact plays throughout an impressive rookie season.
The Idaho native caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns, becoming the first rookie to lead the Bears in receiving yards since Willie Gault in 1983 and the first rookie tight end to do so since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in 1961.
As a result of his performance for the 2025 NFC North champions, Loveland has been named the Bears Rookie of the Year by ChicagoBears.com.
"He's shown up and he's made big plays for us," coach Ben Johnson said late in the season. "The quarterback (Caleb Williams) certainly trusts him. That probably sheds a lot of light in terms of how vital he is to our operation."
Loveland's breakout year came after he missed all offseason practices while recovering from surgery to repair a shoulder injury he had sustained in 2024 while playing at Michigan.
After averaging 1.8 catches and 19.3 yards with no touchdowns in six games played in September and October, Loveland averaged 4.9 receptions and 65.8 yards with six TDs in the Bears' final 12 contests, including the postseason.
"When we drafted him, he was still coming off the injury," Johnson said. "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's most impactful regular-season game came Nov. 2 in Cincinnati when he caught six passes for 118 yards and his first two NFL touchdowns, including a 58-yarder with just :17 remaining that turned a 42-41 deficit into a thrilling 47-42 victory. Running a deep seam route, he caught a perfect pass from Williams at the Bengals' 35, bounced off one defender and outraced two others to the end zone.
Loveland was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance, becoming just the third rookie tight end to earn player of the week honors, joining the Raiders' Mike Dyal in 1989 and the Giants' Jeremy Shockey in 2002.
Loveland's 58-yarder was the longest game-winning TD reception by an NFL tight end since 2015 and the third longest in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime by any rookie since at least 1970. In addition, he joined Ditka as the only Bears rookie tight ends to compile at least 100 yards and catch multiple TD passes in a game and the first NFL rookie tight end to do so since 1980.
"Colston can do a lot of things," Johnson said. "He's going to be a weapon for a long time in terms of the passing game. He does a phenomenal job in our running game. He's been a key component in terms of where we've been able to line him up and what he's been able to do in terms of blocking linebackers and defensive ends at times. And then even in pass pro, we've asked him to do that a few times as well and he's done a great job.
"I see him as a complete tight end, and I think that's what makes him so dangerous is because he can wear so many hats. He's not just a one-trick pony. And yet when we do ask him to run routes, he's very difficult to match up with and he gives teams problems."
Loveland closed the regular season with a flourish, recording six receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown against the 49ers and 10 catches for 91 yards and one TD versus the Lions.
The 6-6, 241-pounder followed with his most impressive performance of the year. In a scintillating 31-27 comeback win over the Packers in a wild card game at Soldier Field, he had eight receptions for 137 yards, including gains of 29, 22, 22, 21 and 19 yards to help the Bears erase an 18-point deficit.
In the process, Loveland became the first rookie tight end to catch at least eight passes for at least 100 yards in an NFL postseason game. In addition, his 138 yards were the second most by a Bears player in postseason history behind Allen Robinson II's 143 yards Jan. 16, 2019, versus Philadelphia.
Loveland's 56 yards a week later in a divisional contest against the Rams gave him 193 yards in two playoff games, the most by an NFL rookie tight end in a single postseason since at least 1960.
"We got a home run with him," Williams said. "I'm excited for … what is to come in the future for our trust, our bond, seeing different route concepts and seeing different defenses and just being on the same page 99 percent of the time."
Loveland faced stiff competition to earn Bears Rookie of the Year honors. In 2025, the Bears became the first NFL team in the Super Bowl era to have three rookies all compile at least 650 yards from scrimmage in Loveland (711), running back Kyle Monangai (947) and receiver Luther Burden III (689).
In addition, Bears rookies combined to produce 14 offensive touchdowns, tied for the team's most since at least the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. They were produced by Loveland (6), Monangai (5), Burden (2) and receiver Jahdae Walker (1).
