The Chicago Bears revealed their 2026 schedule on Thursday night, with some help from third-year wide receiver Rome Odunze, who tapped into his inner Bob Ross to unveil the regular-season slate.
In addition to facing their NFC foes twice, the Bears will play the NFC South and AFC East next season, which includes home games against the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as well as away games against the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers. With the Bears finishing first in the NFC North, they’ll also face the same-place finishers in the NFC East (Philadelphia Eagles), NFC West (Seattle Seahawks) and AFC South (Jacksonville Jaguars).
There was plenty of reaction to the Bears’ 2026 schedule, which includes a gauntlet of seven standalone games, including Thanksgiving and Christmas against a pair of divisional foes.
NFL world reacts to Bears’ 2026 schedule
Genuinely I’m putting the holidays second this year and the Bears first. https://t.co/nyePuJzVLn
— BearsShowYo (@BearsShowYo) May 14, 2026
The Bears have three straight primetime games.
If that doesn’t tell you how much has changed for this franchise, I don’t know what will. The Caleb Effect. https://t.co/2TCAazgalj
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) May 15, 2026
So many prime time games confirmed and the last one might be flexed.
BEARS ARE BACK https://t.co/rMfdzYjtCn
— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) May 14, 2026
The entire happiness around the holidays this year is in the hands of the Bears https://t.co/DWomArZJ7k
— Nasty (@HeyItsNasty) May 14, 2026
Bears trolling the Packers with the cheese grater.
Rome killed this man 😭 pic.twitter.com/ZkG3B48Zlg
— Dave (@davebftv) May 14, 2026
— StartKyleOrton (@startkyIeorton) May 14, 2026
I see 14 wins lets get crazy pic.twitter.com/sB8a5XhQO2https://t.co/Lhz3QYEjyU
— pain (@YoloFlame) May 14, 2026
No Bears/Packers prime time game I guess Goodell doesn’t like money after all https://t.co/KDipD46Asm
— 🐻 (@chirrato) May 15, 2026
Ben Johnson on Christmas Day🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/yEXjAOQoGf
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) May 14, 2026
7 primetime games with 3 back to back is wild https://t.co/CmnLEi8wAi
— Sarah🐻⬇️ (@thechicagosares) May 14, 2026
Some early season gimmes and then the middle of the season goes nuts with prime time games 😂
4 standalone games in 6 weeks, and one of those weeks is the bye…wild https://t.co/bV3SDJPB5K
— Will Applebee (@WillApplebee) May 14, 2026
Initial reaction… Bears go 11-6 in 2026. FRAME IT! Love that the Bears have a Week 10 bye week. Seven primetime games crazy! BEAR DOWN https://t.co/wtKDcQpZX6
— Justin Pottinger (@JustinPottinger) May 15, 2026
Bears on Thanksgiving and Christmas. What a time to be alive https://t.co/ZCY2dcd8T5
— Colson Montgomery Muse (@ColsonMuse) May 14, 2026
So dope! 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/W7eu26J30u
— TMY 🐻⬇️ (@Terence_M_Young) May 15, 2026
Rome Odunze 2000 yard season incoming after this gem of a performance! #DaBearshttps://t.co/xDyWshSY2I
— Matteo34 (@Matthaeus87) May 14, 2026
11-6. See yall in the Playoffs https://t.co/e36eXws0Iv
— run_monangai (@run_errands_) May 15, 2026
Thanksgiving and Christmas game confirmed… oh boy this is gonna be an insane season https://t.co/KZACwPvUOY
— SunDown (@SunDown617) May 15, 2026
#Bears only have back to back away games twice the whole year!
They really only have one game with a far distance to travel as well https://t.co/2diM33Uh09
— Jake (@Jake_B30) May 15, 2026
Our beloved Chicago Bears are set to play SEVEN standalone games during the 2026 NFL season!
Masterpiece. #BearDownhttps://t.co/ZW7jJx2k1h
— Noah Adamany (@NoahAdamany) May 14, 2026
Strongest strength of schedule in the league? No problem! 🐻⬇️ https://t.co/56QJPnIhEVpic.twitter.com/hVqxvOT0JM
— Touchdown Talks (@TalksTouchdown) May 14, 2026
After a thorough analysis of this schedule, I predict with confidence the Bears record will be 17-0! https://t.co/bKkyk6JQwP
— Lyle (@URlyle) May 15, 2026
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears schedule: NFL reaction to Chicago’s 2026 games
