2026 Detroit Lions schedule leak: Thanksgiving opponent rumored to be division rival

TL;DR

The Detroit Lions are rumored to host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving 2026, marking the fifth time in six seasons they face a division rival on the holiday. This matchup has historical significance, being the second most frequent Thanksgiving game in NFL history.

Key points

Detroit Lions rumored to host Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving 2026
This will be the fifth time in six seasons facing a division rival
Lions and Bears have met 20 times on Thanksgiving, second most in NFL history

Mentioned in this story

Jared GoffDan CampbellBen Johnson

Detroit LionsChicago Bears

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), defensive tackle DJ Reader (98), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26), linebacker Al-Quadin Muhammad (69) celebrate their win against the Chicago Bears with a turkey drumstick after winning 23-20 on Thanksgiving Day at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. | Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images According to a report from NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving in 2026. While the NFL strives to make this an exciting matchup, this is a pretty tame result for those looking for change. This will mark the fifth time in the last six seasons (coach Dan Campbell’s tenure) that the Lions have hosted a division rival on the holiday, facing the Bears in 2021, 2024, and now 2026, as well as the Packers in 2023 and 2025. The remain the only outlier in 2022. The Bears and Lions have faced off 20 times in their teams’ histories—the second most times two teams have met on Thanksgiving in NFL history. The Bears took home a 16-14 win in 2021 during Campbell’s first season in Detroit, while Campbell led the Lions to a 23-20 victory back in 2024. While this matchup may not be new and exciting, it certainly has plenty of storylines. Bears coach Ben Johnson will be returning to Detroit for the second time since leaving, and will be hoping to improve on last season’s results, when Detroit dog-walked them 52-21. Johnson was 0-2 against the Lions in 2025, and this game could be his next opportunity to change that record for the positive. The Bears are the defending NFC North champions, but it’s the Lions who are the favorites to win the division this season. The NFL is almost certainly expecting both teams to be relevant in Week 12 and expects this to draw national attention. This game has not been officially announced or confirmed by the Lions or the NFL, but make sure you’re following along with all the .

Q&A

What is the Detroit Lions' Thanksgiving 2026 opponent?

The Detroit Lions are rumored to host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving in 2026.

How many times have the Lions faced the Bears on Thanksgiving?

The Lions and Bears have faced each other 20 times on Thanksgiving, making it the second most frequent matchup in NFL history.

What are the implications of the Lions vs Bears game in 2026?

This game could have significant implications for the NFC North standings, as both teams are expected to be competitive that season.

2026 Detroit Lions schedule leak: Thanksgiving opponent rumored to be division rival

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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