*The video above is from a Mailbag Monday segment on The Sports Office, a livestream sports show that airs on the WGN+ app Monday through Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT.
CHICAGO (WGN) — After a career day where he pin-balled his way to the game-winning touchdown on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Colston Loveland was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.
Loveland recorded career-highs with six receptions, 118 yards and two touchdowns—the first two of his career—in the Chicago Bears’ 47-42 win in Cincinnati.
His 58-yard, game-winning touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter was the second-longest game-winning touchdown reception by a rookie tight end in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime since 1970. It also marked the third-longest game-winning touchdown reception by a rookie in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime since 1970.
Loveland also became the fifth rookie tight end in the Super Bowl era with at least 100 receiving yards and multiple touchdown receptions in the same game.
“It’s well deserved. I thought he came through for us and it really wasn’t the first week that he’s done that,” Ben Johnson said. ” We’ve put him in some positions there throughout the season so far [in the] fourth quarter and we needed to close the game out, and the ball tended to find his hands. He’s that type of guy. When called upon, he’s going to answer it.”
This is the first-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Loveland. He is the third rookie tight end in NFL history to win an Offensive Player of the Week award, joining Jeremy Shockey (Week 17, 2002) and Mike Dyal (Week 13, 1989). Loveland is the third Bears rookie to win an Offensive Player of the Week award, joining Jordan Howard in Week 8 of 2016 and Anthony Thomas in Week 14 of 2001.
Loveland became the sixth rookie from the University of Michigan to win an NFL Player of the Week award, joining Steve Breaston, Devin Bush, Ian Gold, Aidan Hutchinson and Anthony Thomas.
The Bears play the New York Giants on Sunday at Soldier Field. Kickoff is scheduled for noon CT.