Inside the Chicago Bears’ locker room, Colston Loveland already has a nickname, and it tells you everything about how quickly the rookie tight end has earned trust:
“Third and Colston.”
That’s what veteran safety Kevin Byard jokingly calls him, a nod to how often the ball finds Loveland in the most critical moments, and it’s not inaccurate.
Loveland leads the Bears in third and fourth down receptions (19), is tied for the team lead in touchdowns in those situations (3), and has moved the chains 14 times when the offense absolutely needed it. League wide, that total is tied for fourth among all tight ends.
Those numbers matter even more when you consider where the Bears’ offense was a year ago. Cause after finishing in the bottom five in both scoring and total yards in 2024, Chicago now ranks 10th in scoring and third in total offense, fueled in part by a rookie tight end who has become a safety valve, mismatch, and big play threat for quarterback Caleb Williams.
How Loveland earned it
GettyBears TE Colston Loveland
When the Bears selected Colston Loveland 10th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, the expectation was clear: big moments, big games, no hesitation.
“He doesn’t bat an eye; he performs at a high level,” head coach Ben Johnson said after drafting him. “We’re going to be playing in big games with bright lights, and we need guys that rise up to the occasion.”
Early on, circumstances weren’t exactly in his favor. Loveland missed the entire offseason program recovering from shoulder surgery, and his integration into the offense was gradual. Many question the pick early on, especially cause of TE Tyler Warren, who was taken just four picks later and started the season off red hot.
But once the reps came, the impact followed… And it escalated quickly. The defining moment arrived in Week 9 against Cincinnati, when Loveland hauled in a 58 yard game winning touchdown by breaking two tackles.
Production (finally) catching up
GettyBears TE Colston Loveland
Since Week 9, only two rookies in the entire NFL have topped 420 receiving yards: Colston Loveland (506) and fellow Bears rookie Luther Burden III.
Overall, Loveland now ranks top 10 among all tight ends in receiving yards (622) and top 10 in PFF receiving grade (81.4). When targeted, he’s produced a 138.2 passer rating, while also ranking 15th among tight ends in run-blocking grade. In fact, PFF recently elevated Loveland to the No. 2 overall rookie in the NFL.
Colston Loveland’s reliability has him into exactly what modern offenses covet: a matchup-proof option who can win anywhere. It’s no coincidence that early Mahomes–Kelce comparisons are already surfacing. His receiver background shows up in his route pacing and separation, while his size and strength give Williams a margin for error in tight windows.
As Loveland put it himself, “The tight end position is the quarterback’s blanket. Third down, fourth down, I want the ball.”
More importantly, he’s doing it in the moments that decide games. When the Bears need a play, the locker room already knows where the ball should go.
Chicago Bears Rookie Given Nickname That Says It All