The Bears are returning to Thanksgiving football on a much happier note.
They’ll travel to Ford Field in Detroit to play at noon on Nov. 26 this year, CBS announced Thursday morning.
The last time the Bears played the Lions at home in their traditional holiday spot, then-head coach Matt Eberflus botched his handling of the clock in a 2024 loss. He was fired upon returning to Chicago the next morning.
His replacement, Ben Johnson, fared much better in his first year, reaching the playoffs. However, he lost both games to his former employer, the Lions, last year. Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator before taking the Bears’ job.
The Bears lost to the Lions in Week 2 and Week 18 last year. They’ve met each year since 1930, the longest uninterrupted matchup in league history. This year will mark the fifth time they’ve played at Ford Field on Thanksgiving in the past nine years — and the 20th time the two teams have met on the holiday.
The NFL will announce the full 2026 league schedule Thursday night. In addition to NFC North foes, the Bears will host the Buccaneers, Patriots, Saints, Eagles, Jaguars and Jets. They’ll play the Bills, Dolphins, Falcons, Panthers and Seahawks on the road.