Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story Review—Marsha Mason Shines

Hallmark is heading to Chicago for its latest football-meets-Christmas romance, but the biggest scene-stealer apparently isn’t wearing a Bears jersey. Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story brings together Lyndsy Fonseca, Robert Buckley, NFL favorites, and plenty of Windy City scenery. Yet Fantasy Land News reviewer Holly Gately says Marsha Mason is the reason to keep the tissues within reach. As a grandmother with a matchmaking streak and a deep connection to her family and team, the four-time Oscar nominee gives this holiday movie its emotional center. Here’s what makes Hallmark’s newest seasonal kickoff worth watching.

The Holiday Touchdown Franchise Heads to Bears Country

Hallmark has found a winning combination in Christmas romance and football loyalty. After Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story in 2024 and Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story in 2025, this third installment moves the action to Chicago, where family traditions and devotion to the Bears provide a natural backdrop.

The movie premieres Saturday, October 17, at 8 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. CT on Hallmark Channel. It arrives during the opening weekend of Countdown to Christmas, giving viewers an early chance to settle in for the network’s annual holiday marathon.

A Big Early Play for Countdown to Christmas

A Bears Love Story is the second premiere on Hallmark’s 34-movie Countdown to Christmas schedule. It follows ’Tis the Season for Setups, which kicks off the event on Friday, October 16.

That makes the movie an early showcase for the season. Its mix of familiar Hallmark leads, football cameos, and a celebrated screen veteran gives viewers a few ways into the story, whether they’re here for the romance, the Bears, or the Christmas atmosphere.

Marsha Mason May Be the Movie’s Real MVP

Fonseca and Buckley lead the cast, but Gately’s review makes one thing clear: Mason is the standout. She plays Darlene, the grandmother of Buckley’s character, and brings humor, warmth, and emotional weight to the role.

Darlene enjoys trying to bring her grandson and Avery, played by Fonseca, together. But the review shows more than a grandmother setting up romantic opportunities. Her relationships with friends and neighbors reveal a generous, caring person whose life includes a love story about her husband and her beloved Bears.

Why Darlene’s Story Could Hit Harder Than Expected

Part of the emotional pull comes from Darlene’s perspective on living through uncertainty. Gately points to several lines about embracing joy, carrying on when life changes direction, and finding strength in someone else’s support.

One sentiment sums up that outlook particularly well: Life rarely goes the way we plan, but it can’t stop you from living. Another keeps it beautifully simple: One day at a time. The movie seems interested in more than just getting its central couple together by the final scene.

Gately says she needed tissues, a useful warning for anyone expecting only festive flirting and football references. Mason’s performance seems to give the familiar holiday setup its strongest emotional stakes.

The Romance Still Has Two Very Familiar Faces

That doesn’t mean the leading couple gets lost in the shuffle. Gately praises Fonseca and Buckley’s easy chemistry and the approachable, fun-loving quality they bring to their characters.

That chemistry matters in a movie balancing romance, family relationships, and a substantial roster of guest appearances. The central pairing needs to feel inviting enough to hold it all together. Based on the review, Fonseca and Buckley provide that foundation while giving Mason room to shine.

There’s also a reunion of familiar television talent. Barbara Alyn Woods plays Avery’s mother, Jody, giving One Tree Hill fans another recognizable face alongside Buckley. Khary Payton also stars, adding to a supporting cast with plenty of audience appeal.

The Bears Cameos Are More Than a Passing Attraction

For football fans, the guest list is a big part of the draw. Hallmark has brought together current Bears personnel, franchise legends, and other familiar figures to give the movie a distinctly Chicago feel.

The appearances include:

• Ben Johnson, the Bears head coach.
• Caleb Williams, the team’s quarterback.
• Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, representing the tight ends.
• Mike Singletary, Charles Peanut Tillman, and Dan Hampton, bringing franchise history into the mix.
• Connie Payton, wife of the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.
• Staley Da Bear, because the team mascot deserves a holiday appearance, too.

The celebrity spotting goes beyond football. Tamera Mowry-Housley and Marilu Henner make cameo appearances, along with Chicago-area actors Dyon Mojo Brooks and Jake Connelly.

Meanwhile, Abraham Benrubi returns as Santa, giving the movie a familiar link to the earlier Holiday Touchdown films. Between the returning holiday presence and the Bears guests, it balances franchise continuity with its new setting.

Chicago Gets Its Own Moment in the Spotlight

The production filmed around Chicago during the summer, including at Soldier Field and Halas Hall. That gives Bears fans more than a fictional story filled with team merchandise: they’ll see recognizable places connected to the organization.

For local viewers, spotting familiar surroundings should be part of the fun. For everyone else, the Chicago locations help set this installment apart from its Kansas City and Buffalo predecessors.

A Returning Director Knows This Particular Game

Dustin Rikert directs A Bears Love Story after directing A Bills Love Story and producing A Chiefs Love Story. He already knows the series and its mix of romance, football fandom, and family storytelling.

Producers Andrew Gernhard and Molly M. Mayeux also return after working on the Bills installment. Executive producers include Skydance Sports’ Jessica Matthews and David O’Donnell. This is the first of three Countdown to Christmas movies O’Donnell is producing this year, alongside A Grand Biltmore Christmas and Christmas Delivered.

When to Watch—and Why It Belongs on Your List

If the premiere doesn’t fit your Saturday plans, there are two alternatives. Hallmark Channel airs an encore Sunday, October 18, at 6 p.m. ET, and the movie starts streaming on Hallmark+ that same day.

Judging by Gately’s review, the strongest reason to watch is the balance between familiar attractions and something more affecting. There’s a charming lead pairing, plenty of Bears personalities, and recognizable Chicago scenery. Then there’s Mason, whose grandmother brings humor and a perspective that may linger after the seasonal sparkle fades.

Come for the football cameos and holiday romance. Just leave a little room on the couch for the tissue box.