Colston Loveland's Bears breakout hype gets a Travis Kelce comparison

This time, the hype is coming from Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer.

"If there's a breakthrough coming from an offensive player here, I'd circle tight end Colston Loveland's name," Breer wrote after attending Bears training camp. "His work ethic, toughness and intelligence have shone through this offseason, and he has flashed some Travis Kelce-type traits—Kelce is probably bigger, broader and stronger, while Loveland is smoother and faster—that have everyone excited about his second year."

Travis Kelce-type traits?

Yeah, Bears fans can dream a little.

Loveland already provided plenty of reasons for optimism during his rookie season, and his development alongside Caleb Williams could become one of the defining storylines of Chicago's offense in 2026. No one should be ready to declare Williams-to-Loveland the next Patrick Mahomes-to-Kelce connection, but the possibility of the Bears developing their own elite quarterback-tight end combination is suddenly a lot less far-fetched than it would've sounded a few years ago.

And Loveland wasn't the only Bears tight end who caught Breer's attention.

Breer also identified Chicago as a team that could lean more heavily into 13 personnel — one running back and three tight ends — because of the depth Ben Johnson now has at the position.

"Along those lines, I'd expect the Bears to dabble a little more in 13 personnel (putting three tight ends on the field), given that they also have Cole Kmet and drafted Sam Roush in the third round," Breer wrote.

(Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire)

Tight Ends like Colston Loveland are more important than ever

NFL offenses have been trending back toward heavier personnel packages as defenses have gotten smaller and faster in an effort to combat the passing explosion of the last decade. Johnson has never been afraid to attack whatever weakness a defense presents, and Chicago now has the personnel to make those heavier formations especially difficult to defend.

Loveland is a major reason why.

He's capable of contributing as a blocker in the running game without sacrificing the explosiveness Chicago wants from its passing attack. Put Loveland on the field, and the Bears don't have to declare their intentions.

They can line up in a heavier formation and run directly at a lighter defensive box. If the defense responds by adding size, Johnson can move Loveland around the formation and attack through the air.

Loveland isn't simply a tight end who can find space underneath. He has the athleticism and receiving ability to threaten defenses at multiple levels of the field, giving Williams a matchup weapon who can create problems for linebackers, safeties, and even defensive backs.

And Johnson can disguise all of it behind formations that look like they're designed to run the football.

Loveland doesn't need to become Travis Kelce in 2026 to transform the Bears' offense. He simply needs to continue becoming the versatile mismatch Chicago envisioned when it drafted him.