The Chicago Bears’ offense has the feel of something fresh, modern, and potentially dangerous. With Caleb Williams entering Year 2, an explosive wide receiver trio, and head coach Ben Johnson scheming things up, rookie tight end Colston Loveland could be the piece that puts them in divisional contention.
When the Bears selected Loveland in April, they weren’t just drafting another flex weapon to wear a jersey -- they were investing in a matchup nightmare to change the math up front. At 6-foot-5 with excellent fluidity for his size, Loveland, from a profile perspective, fits seamlessly into Ben Johnson’s offensive vision, where space is prioritized and weapons are aplenty.
How Loveland will be used in Johnson's offense in 2025 with Bears
Chicago already has the building blocks of a dynamic attack: Caleb Williams progressing from a promising rookie season, DJ Moore firmly entrenched as the alpha receiver, Rome Odunze set for a substantial sophomore leap, and Luther Burden III arriving with explosive playmaking ability. Add Loveland to that mix, and suddenly defenses have no easy answers.
For Loveland, his role won’t be that of a traditional in-line, or Y tight end grinding in the trenches every snap. Instead, expect Johnson to deploy him as a flex option -- split out wide, in the slot, or motioning across the formation to manipulate matchups. His ability to attack linebackers with speed and size while also outmuscling defensive backs in contested situations makes him a nightmare on third downs and in the red zone. He can also draw attention to clear space for others up the seam.
What makes Loveland so intriguing isn’t just his current skill set, but also how much room he has to grow. In year one, he’ll lean heavily on his natural athleticism and catch radius, likely finding most of his production on seam routes, quick outs, and schemed opportunities off play-action. As his route tree expands and his timing with Williams sharpens, Loveland has the chance to become a consistent chain-mover who can take pressure off Odunze and Burden when defenses sell out to stop Moore.
Looking at recent history, the Bears honestly haven’t had a true do-it-all tight end in years. Cole Kmet has been a solid contributor, always with a little bit more to give, but Loveland’s skillset provides an entirely different element -- fluidity and explosiveness in space.
From a structure perspective, Johnson is known for creating mismatches, and with the variety of weapons at his disposal, Chicago can build personnel packages that stress defenses in multiple ways. Both east-west and vertically up the field. Imagine Moore drawing bracket coverage, Odunze occupying a boundary corner, Burden stretching the field vertically, and Loveland left to work a linebacker in the middle one-on-one. It's the kind of scenario Johnson wants to force, and Loveland has the tools to capitalize.
In the short term, his rookie campaign could be about carving out a reliable role -- 500 yards with a few trips to pay dirt feels realistic given the distribution of targets. Remember, there's only one ball to go around and a whole lot of mouths to feed in the Windy City.
However, in the long term, Loveland projects as more than just a complementary piece. His athletic profile suggests he has the potential to evolve into one of the NFL's most dynamic flex tight ends, capable of becoming a featured mismatch weapon in Chicago’s offense for years to come.
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Chicago’s future is no longer about hope—it’s about potential realized and execution personified. While attention remains on Williams and his dynamic group of wideouts set to compete, keep an eye on Loveland this fall as he may be the quiet piece who ultimately makes noise people can't ignore.