Chicago Bears Star in Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown Movie

Hallmark is heading to the Windy City in a move nobody really saw coming, but let’s be honest, everyone will probably watch. In a freshly announced partnership that blends football frenzy with festive romance, Hallmark Media, the NFL, and Skydance Sports are teaming up with the Chicago Bears for a brand-new holiday film set to premiere during Hallmark Channel’s 17th annual Countdown to Christmas event in 2026.

They’re calling it Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story. The movie promises snowy Chicago backdrops, generational fandom, and just enough mistletoe magic to make even die-hard football fans believe in holiday fate.

The NFL’s Most Storied Franchise Gets the Hallmark Treatment

This is the third installment in the Holiday Touchdown franchise, and this time, the Chicago Bears are officially on the clock. After successful collaborations with other NFL teams, Hallmark execs wanted a franchise with history, heart, and fans who basically bleed football. Enter the Bears.

The announcement came via video featuring Bears head coach Ben Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland, so yeah, this project has real buy-in from Halas Hall. Production starts this summer and will film entirely in and around Chicago, giving viewers a real look at the city’s landmarks, neighborhood traditions, and that unmistakable lakefront winter vibe.

Why the Bears Were the Perfect Pick

Darren Abbott, President and Chief Brand Officer of Hallmark Media, said the decision was about legacy and loyalty. In his words, after the tremendous success of the first two Holiday Touchdown movies, continuing the tradition with another iconic NFL franchise felt natural, and the Chicago Bears, with their rich history and passionate supporters, made them a perfect fit for a heartwarming holiday story.

He’s got a point. Few franchises carry generational devotion like the Bears. From the 1985 Super Bowl Shuffle to the modern rebuild, Chicago fans show up in freezing temps year after year. That kind of loyalty is practically begging for a Hallmark subplot.

• Filming location: Entirely in and around Chicago
• Premiere: Countdown to Christmas 2026
• Franchise installment: Third Holiday Touchdown film
• Executive Producer: Skydance Sports

A Love Letter to Chicago — On and Off the Field

This won’t be some generic football movie with a few holiday lights tacked on. Insiders say the production will spotlight iconic Chicago locations, local traditions, and the emotional link between the team and its city.

Expect snowy skyline shots, neighborhood taverns glowing with string lights, and plenty of navy and orange in scarves and stocking caps.

Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, described the collaboration as more than just a film project. He shared that the organization feels honored and energized to work alongside Hallmark Media, Skydance Sports, and NFL Films, adding that the movie represents an opportunity to further connect with passionate Bears fans while amplifying the team’s global brand in creative ways.

More Than a Movie — It’s Brand Expansion

Warren also made it clear that this partnership is about growth. In his view, creating a meaningful holiday movie allows the club and its fans to grow together while celebrating football, family, the Chicago Bears, and the holiday season. That combination — football and family — is the secret sauce Hallmark has perfected over the past decade.

The NFL keeps pushing further into entertainment spaces that humanize teams and players, giving fans a peek beyond Sunday kickoffs. By partnering with Hallmark, the league taps into a whole new crowd — maybe folks who don’t know a nickel defense from a screen pass, but absolutely know the magic of a snowy small-town bakery scene.

Skydance Sports Is Building a Holiday Sports Universe

If you think this is a one-off novelty, think again. Skydance Sports is positioning itself as a powerhouse in multi-platform sports storytelling.

As the exclusive NFL content partner, the studio is designed to create premium sports content across a wide range of formats, from documentaries to scripted features.

Jessica Matthews, SVP of Film and TV at Skydance Sports, explained the deeper emotional pull behind the project. She noted that the best sports stories live as much with the fans as with the athletes, and that few fan bases carry team history the way Chicago carries the Bears — a devotion passed down from generation to generation.

Generational Fandom Meets Holiday Romance

That generational devotion is where this film will likely find its emotional core. Hallmark’s formula thrives on legacy — family traditions, hometown pride, rediscovering what matters most.

Pair that with a franchise founded in 1920, and you’ve got nearly a century of storytelling to pull from. Imagine a plot built around:

• A lifelong Bears family facing a crossroads during the holidays
• A returning hometown hero reconnecting with their roots
• A backdrop of Soldier Field dusted in cinematic snow
• A romance sparked somewhere between tailgates and tree lightings

The official cast — dubbed the talent draft — will be announced later, but the rumor mill’s already churning. Will Hallmark favorites or NFL cameos show up? With current team figures in the announcement, don’t be shocked if a few familiar faces sneak in.

Countdown to Christmas Just Got a Major Draft Pick

Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas programming has become a seasonal juggernaut, drawing millions of viewers every year. Adding an NFL franchise with one of the most recognizable brands in sports only expands that reach.

The genius of Holiday Touchdown is in its simplicity. It merges two emotional powerhouses:

• The nostalgia of holiday traditions
• The loyalty of sports fandom

Both are built on ritual. Both are passed down through families. Both inspire fierce devotion.

Put them together, and you’ve got something that’ll appeal to couples negotiating remote control custody in December. I mean, who wouldn’t tune in for that?

Will This Be Hallmark’s Biggest Holiday Hit Yet?

The first two Holiday Touchdown films proved there’s a real appetite for football-infused festive stories. The Chicago Bears, though, bring something different—cinematic, almost gritty in a way that only this city can be.

Chicago’s got its architecture, that biting lake-effect snow, and a stubborn belief that maybe, just maybe, next year’s the year. There’s something poetic about a love story set against a franchise that’s all about resilience.

If Hallmark really taps into that feeling, Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story might just go beyond being a novelty. Could it become a staple? I wouldn’t bet against it.

Production kicks off this summer, so they’ll have time to catch both the warm-weather vibes and that classic frosty look viewers crave. The premiere’s set for late 2026, and yeah, expectations are already climbing—Bears fans and Hallmark diehards alike are watching closely.

When the Bears step onto the Hallmark stage, it’s not just football. It’s family, legacy, community—the whole deal. There’s always that little bit of magic when tradition and opportunity collide.

And honestly, if Hallmark’s past is any sign, we’re getting a kiss under the falling snow as those credits roll. The Windy City’s about to feel a little warmer, don’t you think?