Ben Johnson has a clear vision of his ideal football player, and the Chicago Bears' head coach sees those qualities in tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Ben Johnson knows what he wants in his players.
Football should be rooted in the core of each member who makes up the Chicago Bears’ roster. Those are the type of players the Bears’ head coach wants on his football team. And Johnson sees those qualities in tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III.
Johnson sat down for a one-on-one interview with Fox 32’s Cassie Carlson and shared that Loveland and Burden have been at Halas Hall working out during the offseason, which fires up the Bears’ head coach.
“They know it’s a competition for some targets, you know,” Johnson said. “I think it’s kind of what you expected when you acquired those players. Football is what they are all about and so you give them a little time off, they don’t, yeah, maybe they will go do something for a day or two, but quickly they don’t know what to do with themselves again, so they are wired the way we want them to be wired.”
The Bears selected Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick and Burden at No. 39 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Both will play pivotal roles in the Bears’ offense this upcoming season and in the future. Loveland led the team with his 713 receiving yards, and Burden created a team high 13 explosive receptions.
With both players working out at Halas Hall during the offseason, it reinforces Johnson’s comments that they are wired the right way. And Johnson credits this Bears organization for identifying those types of individuals.
“Yeah, well I think that’s what our personnel staff does a great job of is finding out not only character fit but kind of the fit they’re going to be in the building when it comes to the game of ball,” Johnson said. “So, I feel really good about feedback that we get. …”
With DJ Moore traded to the Buffalo Bills, the focus is now on the second-year players to take ownership of this offense. Replacing Moore means more than just filling his statistical void. It requires matching the veteran accountability and consistent availability he provided throughout his tenure in Chicago. Moore has played in all 17 games for the last five seasons. Loveland missed one game and Burden missed two during their rookie year.
Loveland, Burden and Rome Odunze are the focal points of the Bears’ passing game. Quarterback Caleb Williams will be looking for these playmakers during critical moments in games.
There is young talent in this trio of playmakers for the Bears, but the football-first mentality that their coach demands could be the difference maker that helps elevate Johnson’s offense in Year 2 and give Williams reliable targets he needs to make big-time plays in the 2026 NFL season.