Bears HC Ben Johnson makes bold comparison between Colston Loveland and key Lions player

Ben Johnson was selected by the Chicago Bears front office to take charge of the team heading into the upcoming NFL season. His previous experience as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions led him to draw several comparisons between Colston Loveland, whom he selected with his first pick in the latest draft, and a former player he coached.

Undoubtedly, sharing same positions, Johnson saw in Loveland characteristics that reminded him of Sam LaPorta, one of Jared Goff’s top targets in the red zone during last season when discussing the Lions’ offensive strategy.

“I love the tape. I love everything about the tape, but when you get to know him as a man, it’s really intriguing,” Johnson said to the press. “It’s who we want to be going forward, in my opinion. He stands for high football character, IQ, intelligence, but he’s a great teammate. When we went to the University of Michigan, everybody was raving about him to see how he conducted himself, not only amongst his teammates, but walking through the building and interacting with equipment staff and video staff. You could tell that he was so well-respected.

“His story’s a little bit unique, coming from small town Idaho, and yet going to the big stage like he did, he didn’t bat an eye. And so, yeah, I do see a lot of comparisons to LaPorta, but that’s not just on the field. That was off the field as well, because with LaPorta, the stage was never too big or too bright. I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him. He doesn’t bat an eye.“

Sam LaPorta #87 of the Detroit Lions runs off the field after his team defeated the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 22, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

He finally concluded: “He performs at a high level. And as we talk about where we’re going as an organization, and we’re going to be playing in these big games with the bright lights, we need guys that are going to rise up to the occasion, and he’s going to do that for us.”

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Reinforcements to support Caleb Williams

There are signs of a shift in the Chicago Bears, a historic NFL franchise that has long been absent from the spotlight. The selection of Williams as the new leader on the field was seen as a move for the future, which is why the arrival of Ben Johnson aims to elevate his development.

The selection of Loveland as the new tight end for the team isn’t the only new offensive weapon for the former USC star. In the second round of the draft, the Bears made an exceptionally smart move, securing one of the top wide receivers in college football: Luther Burden III.

These two young prospects now join talented receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, so if there’s one thing Caleb Williams can feel confident about next season, it’s that he will have plenty of options to lead his team’s offense.