The Chicago Bears have three quality tight ends, and they are not afraid to use them. Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, and Durham Smythe have all made considerable impacts for the Bears. That is by design, not happenstance.
The Bears rank seventh in multiple-tight-end sets entering Week 16, per Sharp Football Analysis.
Clocker Sports talked to all three players–and TEs coach Jim Dray–mostly about Loveland, but also about the group.
Bears TE Room Coming Along as Planned Under Ben Johnson
Colston Loveland Delivering for Bears
Bears first-year head coach Ben Johnson has always leaned on the TE spot as a playcaller. He drew plenty of side eyes for selecting Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, ahead of Tyler Warren, whom the Indianapolis Colts selected four picks later.
But Loveland has been as dynamic as advertised as a receiver and is an underrated blocker.
“I think I’ve grown a lot, for sure. Just as far as technique, footwork, strength, as well–and size. But I think it’s just, for me, blocking, it’s always been reps, you know what I mean? I need to get the reps. I need to get the reps. So, it starts here in practice,” Loveland told Clocker Sports on Wednesday.
“If you look from Week 1 to what we are now, and still, I still have so much more improving in all facets in my game. But especially the run block and turning a win, maybe to get by–a ‘getting away win’–turning to a dominating win. So, that’s kind of the next step.”
The rookie said he is “just doing what the coaches are asking us to do,” which speaks to the group as a whole.
Still, Loveland’s progress is critical for the Bears’ future, given their investment, and it shows.
“It’s been obvious that he’s gotten better every week at it since I met him back in the spring. But I think the one thing that sticks out to me is, I’ve played with a lot of guys–I was actually just saying this–over the years that are very good in the pass game, and have the ability to play in the run game, but they just don’t want to because that takes away, or in their mind takes away, from the pass game,” Smythe told Clocker Sports on Wednesday.
“Seeing him get better every week, and then not complain about doing that, and being good at doing it, is something that’s really impressed me. Because, like I said, in my experience, I’ve seen a lot of guys who wouldn’t want to do the things that he’s doing.”
Coaching Matters
The Bears drafted Loveland, knowing he would need time to recover from surgery on his shoulder, and he was unable to participate fully until training camp.
That he has not only caught up, but excelled, is a testament to his development.
“It was a unique situation with him coming off the injury. And so, it’s a credit to him to get, not only healthy again, but at a spot to where he looks very strong. You come from a place like Michigan, you’re already advanced as a schematic guy. He’s done a lot of things on tape over his college career that you knew were going to translate. And yet, he’s learning so fast,” Johnson told reporters on Thursday, praising Dray’s “phenomenal” work with the rookie.
“The willingness to block that he showed at Michigan has really translated to this league. He’s going to continue to learn and grow. But he plays with a really good pad level. For a guy that’s not a prototypical Y tight end, that has a little bit more size to him, he still finds a way to play with low pad level and come off the ball and strike, which I really appreciate. I think that’s hard to find for a rookie tight end, much less a guy that’s been kind of tabbed a route runner throughout his college career.”
Loveland’s college coach, Sherrone Moore, told Clocker Sports in April that while the big-bodied tight end would certainly make the most noise as a playmaker, he was a solid blocker. Johnson agrees, viewing Loveland as a “complete player.”
“He takes a lot of pride in all facets of what he’s being asked to do,” Johnson said. “Because of that, there’s really a ton that we put on his plate. From the run game to protections, to route running, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow with him over this year and the future.”
Loveland was effusive with praise for his support system, both in the form of his teammates and a coaching staff that includes three with experience as a TE coach.
That is Dray, Johnson, and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Naturally, Dray is a key factor.
“We got a great coach, Coach Dray,” Lovland said. “He teaches it [blocking] really well. And Cole and Durham, they all have a bunch of good notes and pointers as far as run blocking goes. So, that’s been good for sure.”
Cole Kmet, Jim Dray Staples in Bears’ Extensive TE Support System
Dray told Clocker Sports on Wednesday that the “organization” believes blocking is “important,” not just for Loveland, but the entire TE group.
“The receiving stats, and separation, and, yeah, touchdowns, that is outstanding, and that’s part of the job description. But you gotta be able to block, too,” Dray told Clocker Sports. “Certainly, for a rookie coming in from college, your technique and fundamentals, and hat placement and aiming points, it all has to be perfect at this level, or else you don’t have a chance.
“He’s [Loveland] certainly made huge improvements in that respect for us.”
Loveland said that having that much experience in the same room is “huge. The more you know, the more information, the more input anyone’s got, I mean, that’s always good. So, it’s been great for sure.”
Dray’s presence stands out with new faces virtually everywhere else. As Kmet told Clocker Sports, “There’s a reason he’s been carried over from staff to staff.”
Dray, a seventh-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2010, played eight years in the NFL.
Former head coach Matt Eberflus hired Dray in 2022. Dray survived an offensive staff overhaul under Eberflus, the ex-HC’s firing, and Johnson’s arrival this past offseason. Kmet, for one, is “definitely glad” to still have Dray, a “high-level coach,” on as a resource.
“Oh, my God! Jim’s the man. I’ve been with Jim, obviously, now this is the third, fourth year. But we, me and Jim, have been through a lot together. He’s seen a lot, and I’ve seen a lot with him. And he’s a phenomenal football coach. And there’s going to be a lot out ahead for him, whether it’s being a play caller someday, or even, I think, even a head coach. He’s that good of a coach,” Kmet told Clocker Sports on Thursday.
“He gets us playing at a high level. And really smart dude, with the Xs and Os, obviously, and knows how to communicate and teach really well.”
Dray was equally as high in his praise for Kmet, one of the Bears’ longest-tenured players.
“Cole is a consummate professional,” Dray said. “Everything that you could ask for in the position. I don’t think he gets enough respect. Not only for his receiving, but also his run blocking and play-pass and dropback protection that he’s able to put on tape is some more impressive stuff I’ve crossed in the league.”
Durham Smythe: The Not Forgotten Man
Smythe has been the utility man of the Bears’ TE group, lining up in-line, offset, and even in the backfield.
“I think more than anything, I say this all the time, this is a league of opportunity. And every year, your role is going to be different, depending on who’s in the room with you. Some years, I’ve had to be more of a Y. Some years, I’ve had to play on third down,” Smythe told Clocker Sports of his versatility.
“We have a lot of depth in this room from, really, top to bottom. So, yeah. A little bit in the backfield, all over the place. So, I think it’s an adaptation. Every year, you just try to adapt to what the team needs, and that’s what I try to do.”
Durham has been in the backfield as a fullback more this season than he has in the past during his seven-plus-season career, and with positive results to show for it.
“I’ve done a little bit over the years. I think a lot of the stuff that I did in Miami, I wasn’t necessarily starting in the backfield. But I would motion so much that it almost becomes like a fullback-type mentality. So, I’ve definitely done more of it starting in the backfield this year than I have in years past. But it’s not something that I’m completely unfamiliar with.”
Despite Kmet and Loveland commanding the headlines, Smythe is impactful and valued.
“He’s certainly not overlooked within the building,” Dray said. “This guy’s played a lot of football. He doesn’t need to even rep things or be told things, and he can go out and execute when the bullets are flying. So, we’re lucky to have him.”
So far, the apparent plan Johnson had is working for the Bears, who are 10-4 with three games to go.