For the first time, the Chicago Bears will begin their season on Monday Night Football.
After a 5-12 season filled with disappointment after disappointment, the Bears, by hiring Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions, have put together another incredibly promising offseason.
Will it translate to the field this time? Let’s dive in with where it’ll all begin:
Week 1 vs. Vikings
Monday, September 8, 7:15 p.m.
ABC & ESPN
The Bears have never started a season on Monday Night Football. Talk about the Ben Johnson difference. We’ll have a chance to watch every other game on opening weekend before the Bears kick off their season.
Week 2 @ Lions
Sunday, September 14, 2025 – Noon
FOX
In what might be the most anticipated game on the Bears’ schedule, Ben Johnson will return to Detroit to face the Lions for the first time as an NFL head coach.
Week 3 vs. Cowboys
Sunday, September 21, 2025 – 3:25 p.m.
FOX
Matt Eberflus makes his return to Soldier Field as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for the first time since being fired on Black Friday by the Bears last year.
Week 4 @ Raiders
Sunday, September 28, 2025 – Noon
CBS
Only one way to celebrate a Bears game in Vegas, right? That’s right, we’re headed to Las Vegas for the weekend, and we’re bringing you along, too.
Pete Carroll was one of the 20+ candidates for the Bears’ coaching vacancy this offseason before the team hired Johnson. Carroll would’ve been a decent fallback.
Week 5 – Bye
The last time the Bears had a bye in Week 5? 2018, which is also the last time the Bears won the NFC North.
Week 6 @ Commanders
Monday, October 13, 2025 – 7:15 p.m.
ABC & ESPN
The Fail Mary rematch is going primetime. A shot at redemption for Tyrique Stevenson? This’ll be the Bears’ second and final appearance on Monday Night Football.
Week 7 vs. Saints
Sunday, October 19, 2025 – Noon
FOX
Do the Saints have a starting quarterback on their roster? Jake Haener? Spencer Rattler? Tyler Shough? If you have three third-string options, do you have any?
Week 8 @ Ravens
Sunday, October 26, 2025 – Noon
CBS
The Ravens do have a quarterback. The last time the Bears visited Baltimore, Mitch Trubisky picked up his first career win as a starting quarterback.
Week 9 @ Bengals
Sunday, November 2, 2025 – Noon
CBS
The Bears have won their last three matchups against the Bengals. The last time the Bengals beat the Bears, Cedric Benson was the leading rusher for Cincinnati.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor is the older brother of Bears pass game coordinator Press Taylor.
Week 10 vs. Giants
Sunday, November 9, 2025 – Noon
FOX
Again, we have no idea who’ll be starting at QB for the Giants in Week 10, especially since they drafted Jaxson Dart in the first round after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency.
Feels like the end of the line for head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen.
Week 11 @ Vikings
Sunday, November 16, 2025 – Noon
FOX
Ben Johnson’s Lions offense put up 31 points in both wins against the Vikings last season, including the 31-9 NFC North clinching win in Week 18 ~ Adam Hoge
Week 12 vs. Steelers
Sunday, November 23, 2025 – Noon
CBS
The Bears haven’t been to Pittsburgh since the Cassius Marsh debacle. Fortunately for the Bears, NFL official Tony Corrente retired after the 2021 season.
Week 13 @ Eagles
Friday, November 28, 2025 – 2 p.m.
Prime Video
Black Friday against the defending Super Bowl champions? Sounds like a good deal to me.
Week 14 @ Packers
Sunday, December 7, 2025 – Noon
FOX
Ben Johnson said in his introductory press conference how much he enjoyed beating Packers head coach Matt LaFleur twice a year with the Lions. And Bears fans haven’t let Packers fans forget how Week 18 went this past January. At Lambeau? Circle this one on the calendar.
Week 15 vs. Browns
Sunday, December 14, 2025 – Noon
FOX
Similar to the Saints and Giants, if you have five quarterbacks, do you have a starter? Between Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, Kenny Pickett, Dillion Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders, it could be anybody holding the reins in Week 15.
Week 16 vs. Packers
Saturday, December 20, 2025 – TBD
FOX
Redemption for Cairo Santos? Technically, he got that in Week 18 last year. Could the Bears actually go 3-0 against the Packers in 2025?
Week 17 @ 49ers
Sunday, December 28, 2025 – 7:20 p.m.
NBC
A little NBC action. A December trip to San Francisco didn’t treat the Bears kindly in 2024. But the first Kyle Shanahan vs. Ben Johnson matchup is something worthy of excitement.
Week 18 vs. Lions
Sat. or Sun, January 4 or 5, 2026 – TBD
TBD
The Bears haven’t finished a regular season against the Lions since 2015 – The Ben Johnson difference. Could this Week 18 finale have postseason implications?
Preseason
- vs. Dolphins, TBD – FOX
- vs. Bills, Sun., Aug. 17, 7:00 p.m. – FOX
- @ Chiefs, Fri. Aug. 22, 7:20 p.m. – FOX
