They retired his jersey. Not his NFL number. Not his college number.
An eighth-grade number.
And that tells you everything about Colston Loveland's story.
POCATELLO, Idaho — Inside the ICCU Dome at Idaho State University, a familiar name echoed across the field Saturday.
Colston Loveland.
But this wasn't about the Chicago Bears.
It wasn't about Michigan.
It wasn't even about high school glory.
The jersey retired in his honor was No. 80 — the number he wore in the 2017 Idaho All-State Game as an eighth grader who already looked different, moved different, and dreamed bigger than most kids his age.
Eight years later, the Bears' No. 10 overall pick walked to midfield to roaring applause from youth players and proud families who see him as proof that small-town Idaho can produce NFL stars.
"Today, we're not just celebrating a career," the stadium announcer said. "We're celebrating a journey."
And that journey now carries the weight of Chicago's expectations.
From Gooding, Idaho to the NFL Spotlight
Back home, Loveland isn't just an NFL rookie.
He's Idaho's guy.
"We're all going to be Bears fans now," said his younger brother, Cash, who played wide receiver in this year's All-State Game.
That loyalty comes with love — and pressure.
Loveland, who just turned 21, was a surprise selection at No. 10 overall in April's NFL Draft. Some fans expected the Bears to go another direction. Instead, Chicago chose the 6-foot-6, 240-plus-pound tight end to be a cornerstone of its future offense.
Now, the debate is already forming.
Was Loveland the right pick?
Or should Penn State's Tyler Warren — drafted No. 14 by the Colts — have been the first tight end off the board?
Loveland doesn't fuel the rivalry.
"He's a dang good player," Loveland said of Warren. "Super good dude. He's going to have a good career."
But make no mistake — comparisons are coming.
The Shoulder Setback Nobody Talks About
While the homecoming felt celebratory, Loveland's rookie offseason hasn't been smooth.
He underwent AC joint surgery in January, limiting his participation in minicamp and OTAs. For a competitor who prides himself on preparation, watching instead of playing hasn't been easy.
"You always want to be out there competing," Loveland said. "But you've got to take precautions and do it the right way."
His mother, Rachel Faulkner, paints a more honest picture.
"It was very hard for him to sit and watch and wait," she admitted. "But he's such a good kid, such a team player. He's going to kick butt."
The Bears need that to be true.
Because in Chicago, being the No. 10 pick means expectations don't wait for rehab schedules.
Growing Up Fast — Again
Loveland has been accelerating milestones for years.
At 17, he left Gooding early to enroll at Michigan, skipping senior-year traditions. His mom worried about prom, graduation, the typical teenage experiences.
He didn't blink.
"He handled it like a professional," Faulkner said.
At Michigan, he formed lifelong bonds — including with quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The two won a national championship in 2023. Now, McCarthy is the Vikings' starting quarterback, and the Bears host Minnesota in Week 1.
"That's my guy," Loveland said. "It'll be exciting when we play them."
Exciting is one word.
Intense might be another.
From 5-11 to 6-6 — And Still Growing
In eighth grade, Loveland was 5-foot-11, 170 pounds.
By sophomore year of high school?
6-5 and 230.
Now he stands 6-6, over 240 pounds — a prototype NFL tight end built to stretch seams and dominate mismatches.
His high school coaches knew early.
"There's nothing we can do for him," they told his varsity staff after he dominated JV.
He wasn't just bigger.
He was inevitable.
Life in Chicago: The Rookie Reality
Loveland plans to live alone for the first time in Lake Forest.
There have been laundromat runs. Waffles from Mom. And one joke about maybe needing a girlfriend to help manage the house — quickly corrected.
"That's not why you have a girlfriend," Faulkner laughed.
Behind the humor is a bigger truth.
He's 21.
He's carrying a franchise's hopes.
He's representing an entire state.
And he's still figuring out how to do laundry.
The Real Beginning Starts Now
Saturday was about honoring where he came from.
But what happens next will define everything.
Bears fans aren't focused on eighth-grade heroics.
They want touchdowns. Mismatches. Highlight catches. Immediate impact.
Loveland knows it.
"Everything I prayed for and dreamed of has worked out," he said.
But "everything" in Chicago hasn't even started yet.
And when Week 1 arrives?
All the love from Idaho will turn into something louder.
Expectation.