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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Colston Loveland #84 of the Chicago Bears warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images We asked you guys earlier this week to make your best guess for who will lead the 2026 Chicago Bears in receptions, and nearly half of you went with tight end Colston Loveland.
Loveland led the Bears in catches as a rookie in 2025, and if he does it again, he’ll be the first Chicago tight end to do it in consecutive years since Mike Ditka did it three straight from 1961-1963.
Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III were a close 2nd and 3rd in the poll, just like they were close last season with 44 and 47 receptions, respectively.
If you’re really feeling frisky, our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook have +10,000 odds for Loveland to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2026. Those are the same odds they give Odunze, but they have Burden at +8,000, which is tied with D’Andre Swift for the lowest among the Bears.
What about Caleb, you ask?
He’s at +12,500 to win Offensive Player of the Year, which is traditionally not a QB award, but you can get him to win the NFL MVP award at +1,600, which is tied for 10th.
But back to Loveland, who doesn’t turn 22 until next month.
In his two playoff games last season, he had 12 receptions for 193 yards, which set a new rookie tight end receiving yards record in a single postseason in NFL history. He broke the previous record set by Detroit’s Sam LaPorta, who had 176 yards on 21 catches in three playoff games in 2023.
Loveland was still rehabbing last offseason following January shoulder surgery, so he wasn’t on the field for Chicago’s OTAs and minicamps, but this year, he should be there for everything.
