The Chicago Bears appear to have course-corrected, with Ben Johnson–again, apparently–overcoming years of moribund offense, guiding the team to the playoffs and helping Caleb Williams take a critical step in his development in the process.
What comes next for Johnson and Williams could be tied to a different position group entirely, the Bears’ tight ends. More specifically, Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland figure to be integral again.
Adding Sam Roush to the mix could be the final piece of a complex puzzle for Johnson.
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Johnson and Williams’ relationship has been under the microscope since the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator was hired last offseason, and it relies on communication and understanding, but also putting each other in the best situations to do their jobs.
For Williams, that is keeping the offense ahead of the chains and connecting on throws that he knows he can make. He missed those opportunities far too often last season.
Johnson’s job is to make that easier for Williams, and the Bears’ tight ends certainly helped.
“Caleb Williams’ spectacular sophomore season can be partly attributed to the Bears’ success in utilizing 12-personnel packages,” former player and scout Bucky Brooks wrote for NFL.com on May 22, ranking the TE group fourth in the league heading into the season. Head coach Ben Johnson is on the verge of transforming Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet into an unstoppable pair that will force defensive coordinators to make tough decisions when attempting to slow a diverse offense with big-play threats all over the field.”
Brooks added that the “tag team” of Kmet and Loveland “makes it nearly impossible for opponents to utilize bracket or double-coverage tactics on the perimeter, which should only help ascending WR1 Rome Odunze create even more problems.”
Brooks’ note on Odunze is noteworthy. Second-year former second-round pick Luther Burden III is also stepping into a larger role in the offense. The DJ Moore trade has created some uncertainty for the Bears in that regard.
However, the Bears’ offense was and figures to remain keyed by the tight ends.
“In 2025, Loveland (6-6, 241) and Kmet (6-6, 257) combined for 88 catches, 1,060 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The duo should easily surpass those numbers this season, presuming more balls will head in their direction as Johnson continues to torment his play-calling foes by further embracing 12- and 13-personnel in his creative scheme.
As for Roush, Brooks believes he is “capable of stepping in as the TE3”. Brooks added that “the Bears have an emerging juggernaut with their big bodies on the field.”
Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland Expected to Have Major Impact for Bears
Brooks’ comments are fitting following recent remarks from Bears tight end coach Jim Dray, whose tenure precedes Johnson’s arrival.
Asked about Loveland’s Year 2 outlook, Dray cited his strong base but expects improvement.
Dray was also effusive with praise for Kmet. Kmet is his longest-standing pupil with the Bears. He is also someone who has navigated questions about his future–including trade speculation–this offseason. The emergence of Loveland helped fuel those murmurs, but Kmet is a key, too.
That does not mean the Bears are not bracing for life after Kmet, particularly with the selection of Roush in Round 3.
It does, however, suggest that they are not looking to part ways with their veteran tight end.
The arrow is still pointing upward for Johnson, Kmet, Loveland, Williams, and the Bears. They are a team looking to hit the ground running in 2026. They stumbled a bit out of the gates in 2025 and still tallied 11 wins.
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