8 things to know about the 2026 Bears schedule

Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) runs after the catch for a first down as Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams (33) defends during the second half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

2026 is shaping up to be a very Beary Christmas as Chicago will welcome the Green Bay Packers to Soldier Field on the holiday. Packers and Bears is a pairing that isn't so rare on Christmas. The two rivals have squared off twice before, once in 2005 and again in 2011. Each team has won once, so 2026 is officially the rubber match to see which franchise can be the better Christmas team.

4. Bears wrap up the season in historic fashion

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 16: Cole Kmet #85 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball as Josh Metellus #44 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to make a tackle during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)

If the Bears are going to defend their division title this upcoming season, the final few games of the schedule will be crucial. In 2026, the NFL made sure to raise the stakes a bit. The Bears will play each of their division rivals in the final three weeks of the year, the first time since 1983, according to Bears senior writer Larry Mayer. It's also the first time since 1964 that Chicago will play Green Bay, Detroit, and Minnesota in those three consecutive games. That could swing the division one way or the other when the season concludes.

5. Bears only play 11 games on Sundays

Ben Johnson's Bears were must-see TV last year thanks to their unbelievable comeback victories during the second half of the year. Clearly, the league took notice as well. The Bears are tied with the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams for the fewest number of Sunday games via ThienemanSzn on X. That could throw off routines for some players, but that's the price for exceeding expectations.

6. Holiday traditions for Bears and Lions

Nov 28, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a pass out of his own end zone against the Detroit Lions in the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

If you think a Thanksgiving matchup between the Bears and Lions is becoming somewhat of a tradition, you're not wrong. The division foes will meet on the holiday for the sixth time in 12 years and third time in the last five. Chicago is 3-2 against the Lions since 2014 (4-2 overall, having defeated the Packers in 2015). The Bears and Lions have been the most common Thanksgiving matchup since 2014.

7. Inaugural primetime matchup in Seattle

This year's prime-time matchup between the Bears and Seahawks will mark the first time Seattle has played Chicago under the lights in their own stadium. The Seahawks have played on prime time at Soldier Field on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday over the years. Now, the Bears will experience the 12s at night.

8. Bears will have a restful schedule

While we have known the upcoming opponent list for months now, the way the games are positioned still can have an effect on the players and how many days off they have. Normally, teams will have a full week in between games, but with so many matchups taking place different days of the week, that routine can get interrupted. Fortunately, the Bears have an advantage with how much rest they will get compared to the rest of the league. Warren Sharp calculated the NFL net rest for each team and found the Bears have 15 extra days of rest versus their opponents. That's more than any other team, which should help players deep into the season when nagging injuries begin piling up.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 8 things to know about the 2026 Bears schedule