Chicago Bears Star in New Hallmark Christmas Movie

The Chicago Bears are trading frozen tundra for twinkling lights this holiday season. And honestly, it’s just as magical as you’d hope.

In a move that mashes up hard-hitting football with Hallmark’s signature, heart-melting storytelling, the Bears have officially teamed up with Hallmark Media, the NFL, and Skydance Sports for a new Christmas movie: Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story.

This one’s set to premiere during Hallmark Channel’s 17th annual Countdown to Christmas event. It’s the third NFL team to get the made-for-TV holiday romance treatment, and—if history’s any guide—it could become one of the most-watched cable events of the season.

The NFL’s Most Unexpected Holiday Tradition

What started as a quirky experiment has turned into one of the most fascinating crossovers in sports and entertainment. The NFL and Hallmark have built a little holiday universe where football loyalty meets mistletoe magic, and, well, fans seem to love it.

From Arrowhead to Orchard Park — And Now Chicago

The Bears are following the festive path set by the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, who each got their own Hallmark holiday movie in the last couple of years.

The Chiefs started things off in 2024 with a romance about a superfan and the team’s director of fan engagement. They cleverly tapped into the Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift buzz—without actually involving either of them—and the movie became a legit ratings hit.

How big was it? The Chiefs’ holiday movie pulled in 2.88 million viewers on premiere night. It was the most-watched cable show that evening, second only to the Texas vs. Texas A&M college football game on broadcast TV.

For a made-for-TV Christmas romance, those numbers are wild.

In 2025, the Buffalo Bills got their turn. They filmed entirely in the Buffalo area, leaning hard into local pride and authenticity.

Damar Hamlin and a few other Bills players made cameo appearances, just enough to keep the football vibes real. Josh Allen didn’t show up, but honestly, it still worked.

Now, it’s Chicago’s shot.

Why the Bears Are the Perfect Hallmark Franchise

On paper, matching one of the NFL’s oldest franchises with a cozy holiday romance might sound odd. But if you look closer, it actually fits.

A Legacy Bigger Than Football

The Bears aren’t just a football team—they’re a cultural staple. They’ve got a history stretching back over a hundred years, a fiercely loyal fan base, and a city that wraps itself around its teams with unmatched passion.

Hallmark Media president and chief brand officer Darren Abbott pointed to the franchise’s passionate fans and deep-rooted culture as key reasons for the partnership. The Bears’ identity goes way beyond Soldier Field.

It lives in neighborhood bars, family rituals, generational ticket holders, and those freezing Sunday afternoons that somehow still feel warm because of who you’re with.

That’s the kind of emotional backdrop Hallmark loves.

• Iconic franchise history
• Multi-generational fan loyalty
• A city with built-in winter aesthetic
• Midwestern charm with big-market appeal

If you’re making a Hallmark holiday checklist, Chicago basically fills in every box.

What We Know About Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story

Details are still pretty hush-hush, but a few things have already stirred up excitement.

Production Kicks Off This Summer

Filming starts in Chicago this summer, giving the crew time to catch the city in different moods before turning it into a winter wonderland.

The partnership includes the NFL and Skydance Sports, so this isn’t just some half-hearted licensing thing. Expect real stadium shots, recognizable Chicago landmarks, and maybe even some actual Bears faces in the mix.

No word on the cast yet, which just makes people more curious. Will Hallmark use one of their usual rom-com leads? Could there be surprise cameos from players?

Head coach Ben Johnson has already said he and his wife are excited to watch. That kind of enthusiasm from the top says the team is all-in.

The Business Behind the Mistletoe

This isn’t just about warm fuzzies. It’s a smart branding move for everyone involved.

Hallmark’s Expanding Sports Universe

Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas already dominates holiday cable. By bringing in NFL teams, they’re reaching a whole new group—football fans who’d never plan to watch a romantic Christmas movie.

The NFL, meanwhile, gets to show a softer side, highlighting the emotional and communal parts of fandom. It’s a win-win, honestly.

Look at what the Chiefs movie pulled off:

• Huge ratings
• Cross-audience appeal
• People talking outside of sports media
• Holiday merch opportunities

The Bears’ version could easily match—or outdo—that, especially with Chicago’s massive media presence.

Could This Become an Annual NFL Holiday Staple?

Three teams in three years? That’s not just a fluke. What started as a novelty is starting to look like a real tradition.

The Making of a New Seasonal Ritual

Imagine if every holiday season brought a new NFL-themed Hallmark romance. Different cities, different fan cultures, new love stories—always with football in the background.

The formula’s simple: football loyalty, family traditions, small emotional stakes, big-game energy, and just enough on-field action to keep diehards happy. Add snow, twinkling lights, and a last-minute misunderstanding, and you’ve got a holiday hit.

For Bears fans, this movie offers something rare—a chance to see their team in a light that’s about warmth, connection, and celebration, not just wins and losses.

And honestly? That’s a breath of fresh air in the NFL.

The Countdown to Christmas Just Got More Interesting

Hallmark’s 17th annual Countdown to Christmas was already a must-watch for millions. Now, with the Chicago Bears joining in, there’s a whole new reason to tune in.

A Cultural Collision Worth Watching

Sports and holiday romance might seem like unlikely partners. But the ratings say otherwise.

The Chiefs proved there’s a massive appetite for these hybrid stories. The Bills confirmed it wasn’t just a fluke.

Now the Bears have a shot to take the concept up a notch.

Will Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story deliver snow-dusted Soldier Field scenes? Maybe even emotional halftime confessions?

Could there be a Christmas Eve game that lines up with a romantic turning point? If Hallmark sticks to its playbook, fans can expect all of that—probably with a lot of scarves and a sweeping orchestral score in the background.

This isn’t just another made-for-TV movie. It’s the next chapter in a partnership between America’s most powerful sports league and the champion of holiday comfort viewing.

So whether you’re all about navy and orange or just in it for a cozy love story, you might want to circle this one on your holiday calendar. The Bears are coming to Hallmark, and honestly, the only thing getting tackled this time might just be your heart.