<p>One year after winning their first playoff game in 15 years, the <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears" target="_blank" >Bears</a> are big business.</p><p>The NFL made that clear Thursday night when they released a schedule that features the Bears hosting the Packers on Christmas Day, traveling to the Lions for <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/05/14/bears-schedule-2026-lions-thanksgiving-day-game-ford-field-ben-johnson-matt-eberflus-dan-campbell-nfl" target="_blank" >Thanksgiving</a> and tying a franchise record by playing five night games — including three in a row from Weeks 7-9. By contrast, last year’s team was assigned only three night games all season.</p><p>Everyone wanted in on the Bears. Each of the NFL’s broadcast partners — Fox, CBS, NBC, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix — will air at least one of their games.</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/halas-intrigue/2026/05/15/bears-schedule-podcast-halas-intrigue" >Halas Intrigue podcast: Talking 2026 schedule</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>With expectations comes a first-place schedule for the reigning NFC North champions — the Bears’ opponents in 2026 had a league-high .550 winning percentage last year.