Chicago Bears 2026 Schedule and How to Watch with Sling TV
The Bears are back and ready to roar in 2026. Here’s a complete look at their schedule, offseason additions, and how to watch Bears games with Sling.
The 2025 NFL season was the best in a long time for fans of the Chicago Bears. Coming off a year where they won the NFC North and secured a thrilling come-from-behind wild-card playoff victory, expectations are high as they head into a challenging new slate of games under Ben Johnson. Playing a first-place schedule and in one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions creates obstacles for the Bears, but the gauntlet should prepare them for the playoffs…if they can make it.
Here’s a look at the Bear’s 2026 schedule, along with a look at their offseason moves. Bears fans in Chicago can watch games on ESPN, NFL Network, NBC, and FOX by subscribing to Sling Essentials + Select using the link below.
Chicago Bears 2026 Schedule and How to Watch with Sling
Key Matchups to Watch
- Philadelphia Eagles (Week 3): This Monday Night Football matchup should provide insights into the Bears’ position in the NFC pecking order, as they face one of the conference’s best and most complete teams.
- Seattle Seahawks (Week 8): Chicago’s other MNF game finds them traveling to the Pacific Northwest to take on the defending Super Bowl champions. This game will really show if the Bears can hang with the big dogs.
- Detroit Lions (Week 17): The Bears finish the season with three-straight NFC North games, and this matchup against Detroit is sandwiched in the middle. The division has come down to the final day in recent seasons, so this game will have major implications not just for the Lions and Bears, but the Packers and even the Vikings.
Chicago Bears Prime Time Games
- Week 3: vs. Philadelphia Eagles — ESPN/ABC (Monday Night)
- Week 7: vs. New England Patriots — Amazon Prime Video (Thursday Night)
- Week 8: at Seattle Seahawks — ESPN (Monday Night)
- Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — NBC (Sunday Night)
2026 Chicago Bears Season Outlook
https://youtu.be/pi6a5-kn9KM?si=nS6vOBOrE2db4K8G
The Chicago Bears enter the 2026 season looking to defend their reigning NFC North division title under head coach Ben Johnson. The front office was forced to navigate a significant amount of roster turnover this offseason, highlighted by the blockbuster trade that sent star wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. The defense also experienced a massive exodus in free agency, losing key veteran starters like linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (Giants) and an entire stable of safeties including Kevin Byard (Patriots), Jaquan Brisker (Steelers), and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (Bills). Additionally, the offensive line took a hit when center Drew Dalman announced his retirement. To plug these holes, the Bears acquired center Garrett Bradbury via trade from the Patriots and signed crucial free agents like safety Coby Bryant, linebacker Devin Bush, and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore.
In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bears used their capital to build cost-controlled depth and directly address their offseason losses. In the first round, they selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman (25th overall), providing an immediate, high-end starter for a completely revamped secondary. They bolstered the interior offensive line in the second round with Iowa center Logan Jones, who brings high-IQ athleticism to Johnson's zone schemes. To help offset the loss of DJ Moore and add juice to the offense, the Bears drafted Stanford tight end Sam Roush and LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas in the third round. If this rookie class can gel quickly with the new free agent additions, the Bears have the talent to maintain their grip on the division.
Chicago Bears Free Agent Additions
- Coby Bryant, S (Seattle Seahawks)
- Devin Bush, LB (Cleveland Browns)
- Neville Gallimore, DT (Indianapolis Colts)
- Kalif Raymond, WR (Detroit Lions)
- Cameron Lewis, CB (Buffalo Bills)
- Kentavius Street, EDGE (Atlanta Falcons)
- James Lynch, DT (Tennessee Titans)
- Jack Sanborn, LB (Dallas Cowboys)
Chicago Bears 2026 Draft Class
- Dillon Thieneman, S (Oregon) — Round 1, Pick 25
- Logan Jones, C (Iowa) — Round 2, Pick 57
- Sam Roush, TE (Stanford) — Round 3, Pick 69
- Zavion Thomas, WR (LSU) — Round 3, Pick 89
- Malik Muhammad, CB (Texas) — Round 4, Pick 124
- Keyshaun Elliott, LB (Arizona State) — Round 5, Pick 166
- Jordan van den Berg, DT (Georgia Tech) — Round 6, Pick 213