The Chicago Bears are set for another Thanksgiving tradition in 2026, as they'll face the Detroit Lions at Ford Field for the fifth time in nine seasons. This year's holiday matchup falls on November 26, kicking off the NFL's Thanksgiving slate at noon CT on CBS during Week 12.

The rivalry carries extra weight this time around. The last Thanksgiving meeting in 2024 marked a turning point for the Bears—a heartbreaking 23-20 loss where then-coach Matt Eberflus famously mismanaged the final 32 seconds without calling a timeout. Eberflus was fired the next day, and two months later, Chicago made a bold move by hiring Ben Johnson away from Detroit, where he had been the Lions' offensive coordinator.

Both teams are expected to battle for supremacy in the increasingly competitive NFC North. The Bears claimed the division title last season, while the Lions had won back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024. However, Chicago struggled against Detroit last year, going 0-2 in the series, including a lopsided 52-21 loss at Ford Field in Week 2. This Thanksgiving game will be the Bears' first return to Detroit since that defeat.

Thanksgiving football continues to expand, with the NFL adding a Wednesday night game this year—the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Green Bay Packers on November 25. The league will also feature its traditional three-game Thanksgiving lineup, plus a Black Friday game. The Bears have a recent Black Friday win under their belts, having beaten the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025.

History favors Chicago in these holiday meetings. The Bears and Lions have faced off on Thanksgiving 20 times, with Chicago holding a 20-16-2 overall record on the holiday across 38 games. The Bears previously visited Detroit on Thanksgiving in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2024. As the NFL prepares to release the full 2026 schedule, this matchup already promises to be one of the season's most anticipated.