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The Chicago Bears delivered a cinematic 2025 season in the first year of the Ben Johnson era, which included an NFC North title and reaching the divisional round of the playoffs. Their 2026 regular season schedule – which was released Thursday – shows the Bears could face an uphill battle to repeat that, playing 12 games against teams that had a winning record or made the playoffs in 2025.
However, for Colin Cowherd of FOX Sports, the Bears’ schedule is not the busiest in the league.
“I was told the toughest schedule in the NFL was the Chicago Bears. I don’t see it. The Bears don’t play any team on a bye. Not once. Second, look at the games before their toughest games. It’s either going to be a game before or after where they’re a heavy favorite,” Cowherd said on Friday’s edition of “The Herd.”
According to Cowherd, the Bears host the New York Jets in Week 4 before facing the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 5. They face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 before facing the New England Patriots in Week 7. They face the Seattle Seahawks the following week, but their Week 15 matchup against the Buffalo Bills follows a Week 15 game 14 against the Miami Dolphins.
Still, the Bears are poised for some tough challenges in 2026. They tried to get ahead of themselves during the offseason, adding safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency to make up for some losses they suffered on defense. They also added highly touted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with their first-round pick.
The additions on defense come after the emergence of Caleb Williams as a star quarterback in year two. While Williams lost wide receiver DJ Moore this offseason, tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burden III both showed promise as rookies last season.
To kick things off for Chicago, the Bears open the season on the road against the Carolina Panthers, then play three in a row at home against the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Jets. And while the aforementioned game against the Seahawks takes place after a game against the Patriots, Chicago hosts New England on a Thursday night. So, the Bears will face the Seahawks with an extended break.
For Cowherd, the extra rest between games and back-to-back on-field advantages make the schedule easier than some suggest.
“I mean just the first month they play three home games,” Cowherd said. “It’s a good start. Their toughest game is Seattle against the Seahawks. But they even have a break there. They have extra rest from Thursday to Monday. The NFL wants a Chicago Bears team that makes the news. It’s not a challenge.”
