The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542609
62 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2026 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE T he backbone of the offense' is how NFL columnist Judy Battista de- scribed Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland, naming the rookie one of the biggest winners of the first round of the NFL playoffs. That's quite the statement about somebody who had 8 catches for 78 yards and no touchdowns in his first six games, but that quiet start stands in contrast to just how prolific Loveland has been since, finishing the regular season with 58 catches, 713 yards and 6 scores. The 6-foot-6, 241-pounder has been clutch, too, a go-to target for second- year quarterback Caleb Wiilliams when games get tight. And, boy, have they gotten tight. The Bears, who won the NFC North division for the first time since 2018, notched seven comeback victories in the regular season. Naturally, they found a way to pull off another one Jan. 10 at Soldier Field in Chicago — and Loveland's production was a big reason why. The home crowd was dejected with the Bears down 21-3 at halftime to the Green Bay Packers, but that deficit only opened the door for some more magic. Chicago responded with a thrilling 31-27 comeback win, the franchise's first playoff victory since 2010 and first postseason triumph over its archrival since 1941. The No. 10 overall pick and first player at his position taken in 2025, Loveland caught 8 passes for 137 yards, becoming the first rookie tight end in NFL history to register 8-plus catches and 100-plus receiving yards in a playoff game. His 137 yards now check in second all time in receiving yards for a rookie tight end in a playoff game, behind Keith Jack- son's 142 for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1988. Loveland also was the recipient of a Williams-thrown pass to complete a two-point conversion that put the Bears down three points, 27-24. "When we drafted him, he was still coming off the injury," Bears head coach Ben Johnson noted postgame. "He really missed the springtime, and then train- ing camp, you're trying to be smart, in terms of how you're acclimating him not only to the offense but physically, making sure his shoulder is good to go. So, it did take a little bit of time before we built that trust with him. A little bit of a slower start earlier in the year, and then it's just kind of picked up and it's clicked for us. "I know Caleb has an immense amount of trust in him. He's a guy that is one of the first ones in the building every single day. He's always studying his play book while he's eating break- fast. He's always the last one off the practice field, doing the JUGS machine. "He's been the model of consistency, which, for a rookie, speaks volumes. As a coaching staff, I know we really believe in him. He's really just scratching the surface of what he's going to become." Loveland is one of 17 former Michi- gan players in the NFL playoffs. Here's a look at how every former Wolverine performed in the regular season, with an asterisk next to their name denoting that they made the postseason. FORMER WOLVERINES IN THE NFL Through regular season • AJ Barner* (2023), TE, Seattle Seahawks: Totaled 52 receptions for 519 yards and 6 touchdowns — all career highs — in his sec- ond NFL season in 2025. • Ronnie Bell (2018-22), WR, New Orleans Saints: Caught 2 passes for 23 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown grab in a 19-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons Jan. 4 … Played in two games at the end of the season after being added to the active roster. ❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Colston Loveland Is 'Just Scratching The Surface' Loveland caught 8 passes for 137 yards in the Chicago Bears' 31-27 playoff win against the Green Bay Packers. He became the first rookie tight end in NFL history to register 8-plus catches and 100-plus receiving yards in a playoff game. PHOTO BY JACOB FUNK/CHICAGO BEARS '