LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears signed first-round draft pick Colston Loveland to his rookie contract on Thursday.
The Bears wasted little time locking in the tight end from Michigan after taking him with the No. 10 overall pick two weeks ago. He gets a four-year deal with a team option for the 2029 season. Last year, the Bears didn't sign No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and first-rounder Rome Odunze until mid-July.
Loveland was one of five draft picks Chicago signed on Thursday. The others were linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II (fourth round), defensive back Zah Frazier (fifth round), offensive lineman Luke Newman (sixth round) and running back Kyle Monangai (seventh round). Second-rounders Luther Burden III (receiver), Ozzy Trapilo (offensive tackle) and Shemar Turner (defensive end) remain unsigned.
The 6-foot-6 Loveland gives the Bears a potentially potent tandem at tight end with Cole Kmet. He set a school record for a tight end with 56 receptions for 582 yards and five touchdowns as a junior last season. He was second-team All-Big Ten and a finalist for the John Mackey Award given to college football’s top tight end. He was first-team all-conference in the 2023 national championship season, when he caught 45 passes for 649 yards and four TDs.
Loveland had surgery to reconstruct the AC joint in his right shoulder on Jan. 29 to fix an injury he suffered in September. He is expected to be ready by training camp.
The Bears finished last in the NFC North at 5-12. They fired former coach Matt Eberflus in the middle of a 10-game losing streak and hired Ben Johnson in the offseason to replace him.
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Tight end Colston Loveland, the Chicago Bears' first round draft pick, 10th overall, speaks during an NFL football press conference, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Tight end Colston Loveland, the Chicago Bears' first round draft pick, 10th overall, speaks during an NFL football press conference, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Tight end Colston Loveland, the Chicago Bears' first round draft pick, 10th overall, shows off his jersey during an NFL football press conference, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s parliament on Friday elected Min Aung Hlaing, a general who ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in 2021 and kept an iron grip on power for the past five years, as the country’s new president.
The move marks a nominal return to an elected government but is widely considered to be an effort to keep the army in power after an election organized by the military that opponents and independent observers deemed neither free nor fair.
Min Aung Hlaing was one of three nominees for the president’s post, but was virtually guaranteed the job as lawmakers from military-backed parties and appointed members from the army hold a commanding majority in parliament.
Aung Lin Dwe, speaker of parliament’s combined upper and lower house, announced that Min Aung Hlaing won 429 out of the 584 votes. The two runners-up became vice presidents.
Min Aung Hlaing, who holds the rank of senior general, had earlier relinquished his post of the commander-in-chief because the constitution prohibits the president from simultaneously holding the top military position. A close aide, Gen. Ye Win Oo, took over the powerful job.
The 69-year-old Min Aung Hlaing had been the military chief since 2011. Under a military-imposed constitution, he held major power even before overthrowing Suu Kyi’s government.
Parliament members were elected in three phases in December and January. Major opposition parties, including Suu Kyi’s former ruling National League for Democracy, were either blocked from running or refused to compete under conditions they deemed unfair. Suu Kyi has been held in prison.
Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe, center, arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
FILE - Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar's military council, inspects officers during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 78th Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo, File)
Myanmar's military representatives and lawmakers arrive to attend a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026.(AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Myanmar's military representatives arrive for a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Myanmar's military representatives arrive for a session at Union parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
Parliament chairman Aung Lin Dwe, center, arrives for a session of Union Parliament in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)
