How the Bears’ quarterback search shifted their radar to Loveland

Last year, the Bears’ extra work on the quarterback class — the due diligence required beyond Caleb Williams — introduced them to one of their new weapons.

When the Bears watched quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Michigan, they also noticed tight end Colston Loveland.

“This kid stood out as just a different type of player,” general manager Ryan Poles said.

In Detroit, where the Lions had quarterback Jared Goff playing well in the second stop of his career, then-offensive coordinator Ben Johnson saw the same during his 2024 draft prep.

“When you’re studying other players — call it J.J. McCarthy last year — yeah, (Loveland) flashed immediately,” said Johnson, now the head coach of the Bears. “He was all over the tape.”

This in itself is where Loveland separates himself from Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, who was drafted by the Colts at No. 14. Michigan won a national championship during the 2023 season. The Wolverines dominated. McCarthy became a first-round quarterback, while Loveland rightfully earned the NFL’s attention for later. Both flourished under coach Jim Harbaugh. The Vikings took McCarthy with the 10th selection last year, and the Bears used the same pick on Loveland this year.

What McCarthy had with Loveland is something the Bears should look forward to potentially happening with Williams.

“I just remember even as the play caller, trying to find ways to get him the ball because we knew how talented he was and how much of a playmaker and a mismatch,” said Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who was the Wolverines’ offensive coordinator during their national-title winning season. “J.J. felt that comfort, and I think quarterbacks always feel that comfort with really good tight ends that can bail them out, especially in third-down situations and big-play situations. (Loveland) was a guy we just put all over the field. (You) try to find matchups every week to get him matched up against somebody or the other guys, and J.J. just had a really good connection.”

Loveland’s Michigan film includes plays designed for him, but it’s also full of receptions over the middle and near the sideline with McCarthy as his quarterback in 2023. Some of them were on-time plays with McCarthy hitting him in stride or after the break on his route. Others feature Loveland going up for the ball and making plays for his QB. Some windows were tight.

While it’s apparent McCarthy trusted Loveland, it took time for them to reach that point. Moore explained that it was built during the summer before the 2023 season, though there were signs earlier during spring camp. When the fall hit, something felt special.

“You saw it in fall camp,” Moore said. “You saw something different that if (McCarthy) needed a bailout, he was going to go to Colston and put him in position to be successful. We had a lot of other guys on the team that were successful. Colston was definitely a mainstay and helped us and was a key cog in it for us to win that national championship, for sure.”

With the NFL Draft complete, Johnson discussed the importance of finding players who excel in “big games with the bright lights.” The Lions found one in Sam LaPorta, who played at Iowa. But with Loveland, there is even more certainty. He might be from a small Idaho town, but he played on college football’s biggest and brightest stage.

Loveland led the Wolverines with three catches for 64 yards in their rout of Washington in the CFP national championship game. The title capped his sophomore year at Michigan. Loveland’s first touchdown came a year earlier during his freshman season on the road against rival Ohio State. He shushed the crowd after his score.

“It was in the moment,” Loveland said, smiling. “I did shush them, though. That was cool.”

It’s an example of the energy and swagger the Bears want for their offense and the entire team under Johnson. Moore loved it at Michigan.

“I thought that was an epic moment for a freshman to catch that and not even blink,” Moore said. “Shush the crowd and celebrate with his teammates. I thought that was outstanding.”

In a game loaded with future NFL players, the No. 3 Wolverines defeated the No. 2 Buckeyes that day in Columbus, Ohio. Loveland’s 45-yard touchdown on a pass from McCarthy gave Michigan a 24-20 lead.

“I feel like that was kind of where I started (and) just elevated my game,” Loveland said. “It was like a corner pump, a little corner and up route, like a scissors concept. And yeah, that was the first touchdown. Pretty cool game to have a first touchdown. Wide open. So I was just thinking, just don’t drop it. Literally, just don’t drop it or you got a touchdown.”

It’s how you start to earn a quarterback’s trust, too.

“Listen, I love the tape,” Johnson said. “I love everything about the tape, but when you get to know him as a man, it’s really intriguing. It’s who we want to be going forward, in my opinion. He stands for high football character, IQ, intelligence, but he’s a great teammate. When we went to the University of Michigan, everybody was raving about him.

“To see how he conducted himself, not only amongst his teammates, but walking through the building and interacting with the equipment staff and video staff, you could tell that he was so well respected. His story’s a little bit unique coming from small-town Idaho, and yet going to the big stage like he did, he didn’t bat an eye.”

For Johnson, the similarities between LaPorta and Loveland aren’t restricted to the field. It’s who they are and what they do.

“With LaPorta, the stage was never too big or too bright,” Johnson said. “I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him.”

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