Caleb Loveland
NFL player. Position: TE. Team: CHI.
Quick Facts
- Position: TE
- Team: CHI (Chicago Bears)
- Bye week (2026): 9
- Draft: 2025 1st round (10th overall)
2026 Outlook
Loveland emerged as one of the most dominant tight ends in football during the 2025 season's final stretch. After a slow start, he exploded down the stretch with four consecutive games of 10+ targets (ending with 81 targets for the season). His 137 receiving yards in the wild-card game against Green Bay were just 5 yards shy of the postseason rookie receiving yards record. Bears HC Ben Johnson has built the offense around Loveland's role after trading away WR Rome Odunze to Buffalo. Loveland is a long, rangy receiver (6'7") who eats up ground like a receiver in his route stem but is snappy enough to separate from linebackers. His 4-TD performance in the playoffs earned him isolation routes on must-get situations—clearing the paint for a rookie tight end is unheard of. His elite blocking ability makes him doubly dangerous in the play-action pass game (per [[2026 NFL offseason: Big questions about second-year players]]).
ESPN projects Loveland will consolidate even more production in 2026 following Odunze's departure. Odunze had 85 targets in 2025, but Loveland nearly matched him with 81 despite being in the role for fewer weeks. ESPN believes Loveland may become the #1 option in Chicago despite the presence of WR Malik Burden, given his rare combination of size, athleticism, and blocking prowess. The Bears' playbook is dense but designed to feature Loveland heavily, with Ben Johnson typically calling isolation routes for his best pass catchers.
Role / Depth Chart
Primary receiving threat for Chicago Bears. Starter at TE. Will compete with WR Malik Burden for target share as the team's top pass-catching option.
Injury Status
Healthy.
Recent News
- 2026-05-15 — 2026 NFL offseason: Big questions about second-year players ([[2026 NFL offseason: Big questions about second-year players]])
Open Questions
- Will Loveland maintain four-consecutive 10+ target games in 2026, or was that playoff-fueled usage?
- How will Ben Johnson balance targets between Loveland and WR Malik Burden?