The Chicago Bears’ season may have ended in heartbreak, but buried beneath the disappointment is a number that changes how the league should be talking about Colston Loveland.
On Tuesday, the Bears quietly announced a postseason record that reframes their playoff exit—and elevates their rookie tight end into rare historical territory.
Loveland, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, now holds the NFL record for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in playoff history, totaling 193 yards in just two games.
Two games. Not a full postseason run. Not a Super Bowl appearance. Two appearances—one of which he didn’t even finish.
That detail matters.
A Rookie Season That Built Toward January
Loveland’s regular season was impressive on its own. In 16 games (11 starts), the former Michigan standout recorded 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
Solid numbers for a rookie tight end adjusting to NFL speed, coverage complexity, and physicality.
But Chicago didn’t draft Loveland to be “solid.”
They drafted him to be a problem in January.
And that’s exactly what he became.
In the Wild Card round against Green Bay, Loveland delivered the kind of performance that flips playoff games—and narratives.
Eight catches. A career-high 137 yards. He consistently found soft spots in coverage, bailed out the quarterback on broken plays, and punished the Packers for every missed assignment.
The Bears won 31-27, and Loveland was the heartbeat of the passing game.
A Record Set—Then Cut Short
One week later, in the Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams, Loveland picked up right where he left off. Four catches for 56 yards, moving the chains and stretching the field vertically.
Then everything stopped.
Early in the fourth quarter, Loveland took a hard hit and struck his head on the turf while completing a catch.
He exited the game and did not return. Head coach Ben Johnson later confirmed Loveland was diagnosed with a concussion.
Chicago would go on to lose 20-17 in overtime.
What’s remarkable is what happened before that loss became official.
In just those two playoff games—one complete, one abbreviated—Loveland accumulated 193 receiving yards, surpassing every rookie tight end who came before him in NFL postseason history.
No one else did it faster. No one else did it with fewer opportunities.
What the Record Actually Signals
This isn’t just a feel-good stat.
It’s a warning sign.
Loveland didn’t pad numbers in garbage time. He didn’t benefit from broken coverage in blowouts. His production came in tight, high-leverage moments against playoff defenses that were fully aware he was a focal point.
And they still couldn’t stop him.
For Chicago, the record underscores why the organization views Loveland as a foundational piece—not a complementary one.
The Bears won the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and proved they can win playoff games. Now they need players who can tilt postseason matchups.
Loveland already does.
The Season Ends—The Conversation Doesn’t
Chicago’s season is officially over. The overtime loss stings. The concussion clouds the final memory.
But the numbers don’t lie.
Colston Loveland just authored the most productive playoff stretch by a rookie tight end the league has ever seen—and did it while still learning the NFL.
The Bears said it best in their understated post:
“And he’s just getting started.”
That may be the most unsettling part for everyone else.
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