Colston Loveland had an outstanding performance in the Bears' third playoff meeting with the Packers. Loveland led the Bears with 137 reception yards, more than doubling DJ Moore, the closest Bear receiver behind him, who posted 64 yards.
Loveland's night wasn't just outstanding; he was the Bears' offense in the biggest game this team has faced in almost a decade. He drew national recognition and eliminated any doubt that the Bears made the right choice to select Loveland 10th overall.
The significance of Loveland's night extended beyond the box score, with his impressive 137 yards being a career high. Not only is it a career high, but it's a historically rare number for a tight end in a playoff setting. Loveland landed at #11 on the list of receiving yards in a single game by a tight end. The great Travis Kelce sits behind him, holding the #12 and the #13 spots.
Colston Loveland's 137 yards rank tied for 10th all-time for a tight end in a playoff game, via @Stathead. Second-most for a rookie TE behind Keith Jackson pic.twitter.com/8i4rOPRoPD
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) January 11, 2026
Colston Loveland's Historical Night
This wasn't an outlier. This wasn't a fluke opportunity that happened by accident. Loveland has been hard at work all season, with his usage trending upward from game one. Loveland's tremendous size and blocking ability fit him well inside Ben Johnson's offense.
Loveland demonstrated remarkable consistency in an environment flooded with capable receivers. With multiple injuries keeping receivers out of several weeks of football, Loveland finished the regular season as the reception yards leader of the whole offense.
The young tight end became trusted not only on critical downs but also in numerous two-minute drills, which led to the Bears having an extraordinary number of comeback wins. Loveland earned his place on this offense; nothing was spoon-fed.
Loveland's breakout in the Wild Card did not redefine his role within the Bears' offense; it confirmed it. His 137-yard performance was not the result of circumstance or schematic luck, but the product of consistent trust built over the course of the season. In the stressful environment that is the playoffs, Colston remained a reliable piece of Chicago's game plan from start to finish.
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Performances like this don't happen by accident. What Loveland has accomplished goes down in the history books of the Bears forever. With the attention of the whole city of Chicago, this team, with its star rookie, takes another step closer to the last big game of the year in February.