How Colston Loveland can help Bears become NFL's best 13-personnel team

The Chicago Bears were a very productive team last season in the first year of the Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams pairing. It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect further growth this year.

While there will be a lot of focus on the wide receiver room with DJ Moore traded to the Buffalo Bills, the Bears' tight end room is a group that's worth paying extra close attention to. But it's not just because of Colston Loveland.

ESPN's Matt Bowen tabbed the Bears as a "team to watch," which could become the NFL's best at running 13-personnel, which is a personnel formation with one running back, one receiver, and most notably, three tight ends.

How Bears could become NFL's best 13-personnel team

"They ran 94 snaps out of the grouping last season (fifth most), but that number should elevate in 2026," Bowen writes. "Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, and 2026 third-round pick Sam Roush can be used creatively as blockers while also working multiple levels of the field as receivers."

The Bears ran the fifth-most plays out of 13-personnel last season, but came up short of the Los Angeles Rams, who found immense success in the formation.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Bears might be more suited than ever to run this formation and find success with it.

Loveland will be the main receiving threat for the Bears in this tight end room, with Kmet and Roush good backup and blocking options. But defenses can't sell out, as both backup TE options are also decent receiving threats.

MORE: Bears need Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland to step up with DJ Moore traded

Add in a solid projected running game and a good pair of receivers, and the Bears might be able to find significant success out of 13-personnel in 2026.

Loveland is the main reason why this formation might work so well for Chicago that Bowen has them as the team to watch for 2026 with this personnel grouping.

Sending three tight ends onto the field might give the Bears a huge advantage in 2026, thanks to having three solid options.

All three should be solid blocking and receiving options, and the only thing stopping this TE room from becoming the best with this personnel grouping will be if Johnson starts calling more 13-personnel plays in 2026.

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