2026 Detroit Lions schedule leak: Thanksgiving opponent rumored to be division rival

According to a report from NFL Insider Jordan Schultz, the Detroit Lions to host Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving in 2026.

While the NFL strives to make this an thrilling matchup, this can be a fairly large end result for these searching for change. This will mark the fifth time within the final six seasons (coach Dan Campbell’s tenure) that the Lions have hosted a division rival on the vacation, going through the Bears in 2021, 2024, and now 2026, in addition to the Packers in 2023 and 2025. The Buffalo Bills stay the one outlier in 2022.

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The Bears and Lions have confronted off 20 occasions of their groups’ histories—the second most occasions two groups have met on Thanksgiving in NFL historical past. The Bears took dwelling a 16-14 win in 2021 throughout Campbell’s first season in Detroit, whereas Campbell led the Lions to a 23-20 victory again in 2024.

While this matchup could not be new and thrilling, it definitely has loads of storylines.

Bears coach Ben Johnson will be returning to Detroit for the second time since leaving, and can be hoping to enhance on final season’s outcomes, when Detroit dog-walked them 52-21. Johnson was 0-2 towards the Lions in 2025, and this sport might be his subsequent alternative to change that file for the optimistic.

The Bears are the defending NFC North champions, however it’s the Lions who’re the favorites to win the division this season. The NFL is nearly definitely anticipating each groups to be related in Week 12 and expects this to draw nationwide consideration.

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This sport has not been formally introduced or confirmed by the Lions or the NFL, however be sure to’re following together with all of the latest rumors, leaks, and news in our official Lions 2026 schedule tracker.