Chicago has been buzzing with excitement as rookie tight end Colston Loveland continues to make his mark on the team during training camp. Reputed for his skills on the field and within coach Ben Johnson‘s offense, Loveland recently caught everyone’s attention for a completely different reason.
On the latest episode of the Bears’ docuseries, 1920 Football Drive, Loveland showcased his vocal abilities by performing Mario’s hit song “Let Me Love You” in front of his teammates during a team meeting. “That was just a song I’ve been listening to forever and it was something I actually knew,” he said. “I knew I could sing it without an instrumental if I had to. I felt confident,” he added. This fun initiation is a long-standing tradition in the NFL, where rookies are typically expected to perform a song for their teammates during training camp. It’s a lighthearted initiation to welcome new players, but the goal is always to deliver a solid performance and avoid the embarrassment of having to go up again.
“They said I did a pretty good job,” Loveland mentioned, feeling relieved not to have to perform again. In this tradition, veterans often hold the power to call for re- performances if they feel the rookie has not met expectations. Veteran safety Kevin Byard III, known for being a tough critic, shared a positive review of Loveland’s performance. “That’s a great karaoke song,” he remarked. “I think he picked a really good song, it was really funny. He put a little sauce on it, gave us a little dance, a little bop.”
Byard did not hold back, stating how others who did not perform well were met with boos and mockery. “We just boo. Start throwing paper up there, and then basically you just get escorted off the stage like it’s ‘Showtime at the Apollo,'” he joked. He also praised a couple of other rookies for their solid performances, mentioning wide receiver Jahdae Walker and running back Kyle Monangai. Yet, Byard was clear, “Most of them sucked, to be honest. I’m just keeping it real.”
Loveland’s early performance set a high bar for the rest of the rookie class, with fellow tight end Cole Kmet giving him major props. “Colston did a really good job with his rookie performance,” Kmet said. “Came prepared, sung his heart out, had some good dance moves along the way. I’m pretty confident that will remain the No. 1 rookie performance of the offseason.” The Bears as a team are looking forward to their next challenge, with Loveland’s spirited performance setting an upbeat tone for the rest of the training camp. As the season approaches, all eyes will be on him and the entire rookie class for what else they can bring to the field.
