The Chicago Bears had a regular season to remember this year. Securing a division title and the number two seed in the NFC is not an every-season occurrence for this franchise.
Regardless, every puzzle piece fell in its correct place, from first-year head coach Ben Johnson to the offensive line additions to seemingly almost every single draft selection.
This Bears' rookie class specifically was phenomenal. Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, Kyle Monangai, Ozzy Trapilo, Ruben Hyppolite II, and eventually Shemar Turner all look to be legitimate pieces of a winning team.
More: Bears' Luther Burden III given first-team rookie honors from ESPN analyst
One of those rookies in particular got a fair amount of flak early on in the season. Many looked at Colston Loveland at the 10th overall pick and assumed him to be a bust through the first half of the season.
Based on the fairly low production and stellar start from the 14th overall pick and other TE Tyler Warren, many thought the Bears had whiffed the pick. How wrong they were.
Loveland turned up his play to finish out the season and actually ended up accomplishing a feat that the organization hadn't seen since 1983.
Loveland leads all Bears pass catchers in receiving yards
Loveland finished this season with 58 catches for 713 yards and six TDs. Those marks had the rookie TE finishing first on the team in all three categories (tied with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore in TDs).
The Chicago Bears have not had a rookie finish first in receiving yards on the team since 1983, when Willie Gaunt accomplished the feat. Loveland was also the first rookie TE to do it since Mike Ditka in 1961.
Colston Loveland is the first rookie to lead the Bears in receiving yards in a season since Willie Gault in 1983 and the first rookie tight end to do so since Hall of Famer Mike Ditka in 1961.
— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) January 5, 2026
Loveland has been playing so well to finish the season that he even got a glowing review from Tom Brady in Week 18, who called him "A little mini Gronk."
Between Loveland, Warren, and Harold Fannin Jr, this rookie class has set up the TE position to be stacked well into the future.
Loveland has all the tools to continue to be an elite TE in the league, and for Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson, they're ready to keep climbing along with him.
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