Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story Cast Shares Filming Secrets

Hallmark has brought its holiday romance playbook to Chicago, and the cast of Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story has plenty to share about what happened behind the scenes. In an interview with Decider, Marsha Mason, Robert Buckley, and Lyndsy Fonseca talked about everything from NFL cameos and surprisingly competitive cornhole to a sweltering firetruck shoot. Beneath the football fun and festive matchmaking, though, is a story about family, loss, and finding joy again. The movie’s sweetest moments might draw viewers in, but its off-camera stories deserve a little attention, too.

A Grandmother With a Game Plan Gets This Romance Moving

The third installment in Hallmark’s NFL collaboration follows freelance journalist Avery, played by Fonseca, and firefighter Matt, played by Buckley. Helping their connection along is Matt’s grandmother Darlene, played by Mason. She’s approaching an impressive personal milestone: attending her 500th Chicago Bears game.

Following 2024’s A Chiefs Love Story and 2025’s A Bills Love Story, this Chicago-set romance brings another football community into Hallmark’s holiday universe. It also gives its central couple a refreshingly straightforward start.

No Manufactured Feud Required

Fonseca appreciated that Avery and Matt don’t begin as enemies waiting for an inevitable romantic reversal. Their relationship grows from an honest meet-cute, with affection building naturally. Buckley credited his co-star’s likability and sense of fun for making their flirty exchanges easy to play.

Mason, meanwhile, clearly enjoyed playing the meddling grandmother. Asked about giving relationship advice in real life, she described a diplomatic approach: ask someone what they like about their partner before going further. Her teasing exchanges with Buckley during the interview suggested the cast’s easy chemistry carried on long after filming.

Robert Buckley Could Not Play It Cool Around One Bears Star

The movie features appearances from Bears personalities, and Mason praised the current and former players for their curiosity and natural responses in scenes. For Buckley, though, one particular addition to the lineup turned work into a genuine fan moment.

A Christmas cornhole competition features Colston Loveland and Dan Hampton. Buckley revealed that Cole Kmet was the only player originally involved, and that he’d floated the idea of bringing Loveland aboard, too.

His Character’s Starstruck Reaction Was Barely Acting

Once Loveland joined the movie, Buckley admitted he lost his composure. Fonseca saw his excitement firsthand and happily teased him about it. Luckily, Matt is supposed to be starstruck in the scene, so Buckley could channel his real nerves into the performance.

Fonseca had her own surprisingly authentic connection to the cornhole action. At a Bears tailgate on October 4, Buckley recalled watching her throw five bags and land what he thought were four. She credited the Bears’ energy. Whatever the reason, her skills apparently weren’t just movie magic.

Chicago Won Them Over—With One Very Bitter Exception

The production leaned into its setting rather than just borrowing Chicago’s name. Fonseca said the cast filmed at the locations shown in the movie, including the real Irish Nobleman. There were no green screens standing in for those places.

Buckley also embraced the city through its food, enthusiastically describing how he ate his way around Chicago. Tavern-style pizza proved especially memorable, and he called the experience something close to a spiritual awakening.

The Food Recommendations Were Enthusiastic. The Malört Reviews Were Not.

For viewers planning their own Chicago food tour, Buckley recommended Zarella for tavern-style pizza and named Mr. Beef, Al’s, and Portillo’s as Italian beef options. He also celebrated the Chicago dog and endorsed getting that Italian beef double-dipped.

Malört received a considerably chillier reception. Fonseca found the signature liqueur pretty gross, while Mason called it terrible and said it tasted almost medicinal. Buckley compared it to a relative of Jägermeister. Still, Mason gamely said her affection for Chicago and the Bears would persuade her to drink it again.

The Most Moving Storyline Goes Beyond the Romance

While Avery and Matt bring the romantic spark, Darlene gives the movie its deeper emotional stakes. Her story includes cancer, the loss of her husband Bernie, and her determination to keep embracing life as she approaches that 500th game.

Mason emphasized the importance of community in getting through hardship. She hoped viewers would take away joy, happiness, affection, and love, rather than remember only the difficulties her character has faced.

One Quiet Moment Left a Lasting Impression

A particularly meaningful scene gives Darlene a private moment with her late husband around her milestone game. Fonseca remembered being captivated by Mason’s physical performance, especially the joyful, almost giddy movement that came with the character’s connection to Bernie.

The cornhole sequence carries emotional weight, too, marking a turning point between Avery and her stepfather Ron. Fonseca praised Khary Payton, who plays Ron, for bringing charisma, humor, and sincerity to their scenes.

That Festive Firetruck Ride Was Hotter Than It Looked

The movie’s firetruck sequence might look like an exciting holiday adventure, but filming it was hardly cozy. The actors described a cramped, uncomfortable vehicle that was tough to climb into and even harder to exit gracefully.

Fonseca said they needed ladders to get in and out, while Mason recalled needing help getting lifted down. Most of the apparent driving was filmed with the truck parked, though Buckley noted they did pull up to the stadium.

Winter Clothes Met a Chicago Heat Wave

To make things worse, the cast wore winter clothes in approximately 90-degree heat. Fans offered some relief, but the heat, smells, and heavy seasonal costumes made the experience memorable for reasons viewers might not guess.

The experience also gave them a new respect for actual firefighters. Behind a cheerful screen moment was a reminder of just how demanding that work environment can be.

A Familiar Face—and Some First-Time Performers—Joined the Celebration

Barbara Alyn Woods appears as Avery’s mother, Jodie, creating a One Tree Hill connection with Buckley. There’s a catch, though: the two never crossed paths on the series and had mostly seen each other at conventions.

Woods announced their upcoming collaboration with a playful text asking which former cast member he’d choose for a Christmas movie. Buckley described getting to work with her as a delight.

The Cast Already Has a Sequel Suggestion

The production also welcomed four non-actors connected to Bears Care, including two auction winners. Fonseca said they didn’t need acting tips, while Buckley recalled the shared excitement during scenes with Coach Johnson, his wife, and Kmet.

Asked which NFL team should get a future installment, Buckley suggested another Bears movie, and Fonseca agreed. For now, this Chicago chapter is streaming on Hallmark+, where it debuted October 18. With its football cameos, family connections, and surprisingly heartfelt grandmother storyline, it offers more than a holiday meet-cute.