It is officially the 2026 offseason, and the "Steel City" draft in Pittsburgh is officially in the books. The energy in the Windy City has shifted from "cautious hope" to "aggressive expectation." After watching over 800,000 fans swarm the North Shore of Pittsburgh for the draft, the Chicago Bears emerged with a haul designed to turn a playoff-caliber roster into a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
This is the era of the "Caleb-Effect." With Caleb Williams entering his third season and Matt Eberflus having successfully navigated the team to its first postseason win in nearly two decades, the focus is now on the 2026 campaign. GM Ryan Poles used the Pittsburgh draft to fortify the "Great Wall of Chicago," ensuring that his franchise quarterback has the time to pick apart an increasingly competitive NFC North.
How to Get Bears Tickets for the 2026 Season
With the full schedule release officially out as of Thursday, May 14, 2026, ticket portals are bracing for record-breaking volume from the Monsters of the Midway.
- Official On-Sale: Single-game tickets go live on Ticketmaster almost immediately following the NFL's official schedule release on May 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.
- Mobile-Only Entry: Soldier Field is a strictly digital venue. You must use the Chicago Bears app or your mobile wallet to access tickets; screenshots and paper printouts are no longer valid.
- The "South America" Hype: Take note—rumors are swirling that the Bears could be tapped for an international slot in 2027, so 2026 is the year to lock in your "Priority Access" via season ticket deposits.
- Secondary Market: For the legendary divisional battles against the Packers or Lions, check StubHub, the official fan-to-fan marketplace for verified resale.
Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Time (ET) | Network |
1 | Sept 13 | @ Philadelphia Eagles | Lincoln Financial Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
2 | Sept 20 | @ Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
3 | Sept 27 | Washington Commanders | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
4 | Oct 4 | @ Detroit Lions | Ford Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
5 | Oct 11 | Minnesota Vikings | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
6 | Oct 18 | New York Jets | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | CBS |
7 | Oct 25 | @ Los Angeles Chargers (SNF) | SoFi Stadium | 8:20 PM | NBC |
8 | Nov 2 | @ Seattle Seahawks (MNF) | Lumen Field | 8:15 PM | ESPN |
9 | — | BYE WEEK | — | — | — |
10 | Nov 15 | Carolina Panthers | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
11 | Nov 22 | Dallas Cowboys | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
12 | Nov 26 | @ Detroit Lions (Thanksgiving) | Ford Field | 1:00 PM | CBS |
13 | Dec 6 | Green Bay Packers | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | FOX |
14 | Dec 13 | @ Buffalo Bills | Highmark Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
15 | Dec 20 | Miami Dolphins | Soldier Field | 1:00 PM | CBS |
16 | Dec 27 | @ New England Patriots | Gillette Stadium | 1:00 PM | CBS |
17 | Jan 3 | Detroit Lions | Soldier Field | 4:25 PM | FOX |
18 | Jan 10 | @ Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium | TBD | TBD |
How to Watch the Bears in 2026
- Local/National:FOX (WFLD-32) remains the primary home for the Bears. CBS (WBBM-2) will carry AFC matchups like the Bills and Dolphins, while NBC (WMAQ-5) handles Sunday Night Football.
- Thursday Night:Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for all TNF games.
- Holiday Special: Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday. Netflix will exclusively stream the NFL's holiday games this year.
- Best Choice for Local Fans:Fubo covers all local Chicago affiliates (WFLD, WBBM, WMAQ, WLS) and the NFL Network.
- Pro Tip: For "Bears Fans in Exile," NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV is the only way to see every Caleb Williams deep ball. If traveling, use NordVPN set to Chicago to access your local WFLD/FOX stream via your mobile apps.
The "Steel City" Draft: Bears 2026 Highlights
The Bears were tactical in Pittsburgh, focusing on protecting their investment under center and adding a physical edge to the defensive interior.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
1 | 25 | Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT | Texas |
2 | 57 | Kaleb Johnson | RB | Iowa |
4 | 121 | Tyleik Williams | DT | Ohio State |
5 | 154 | Elic Ayomanor | WR | Stanford |
6 | 186 | Sebastian Castro | S | Iowa |
Draft Analysis:
- The Blindside Protector: At #25 overall, the Bears secured Kelvin Banks Jr. The Texas standout is a "plug-and-play" tackle with elite footwork, designed to move Darnell Wright to his more natural side or provide the ultimate insurance policy for Caleb Williams.
- The "Monster" in the Backfield:Kaleb Johnson (#57) was a draft-day darling for Bears fans. The Iowa bruiser adds the "heavy" running style Matt Eberflus craves to close out games in the brutal Chicago December weather.
- Value Late: The selection of Elic Ayomanor (#154) gives the Bears a massive red-zone target to complement DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, creating a "triple-threat" receiving corps that is arguably the best in the NFC.
Chicago Bears: 2025 Season Recap
The 2025 season was a historic "arrival" for the franchise. The Bears finished 11–6, securing their first winning season of the Caleb Williams era. The campaign was defined by a top-10 defense and a breakout year from the receiving corps. Most notably, the Bears ended their postseason drought with a thrilling Wild Card victory over the Green Bay Packers, signaling a permanent power shift in the NFC North.
Week | Opponent | Result | Record |
W1–W18 | Regular Season | 11–6 | Playoff Bound |
WC | @ Green Bay Packers | W, 31–27 | The Curse is Broken |
DIV | @ San Francisco 49ers | L, 20–28 | Divisional Exit |
MVP | Caleb Williams | 4,200+ Yds | 35 Total TDs |