What happened: The Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, at Ford Field, per reporting tied to the NFL's 2026 schedule release. The matchup marks Ben Johnson's second trip back to Detroit as the Bears' head coach. NFL Rapoport (@RapSheet) confirmed the opponent ahead of the league's full schedule unveil.

Why it matters: The Thanksgiving Classic is one of the NFL's marquee annual showcases, and pairing Detroit with Johnson's Bears injects a storyline-rich divisional clash into the holiday slate. Johnson, Detroit's former offensive coordinator, helped architect the Lions' recent offensive rise before taking the Chicago job, making any return to Ford Field a referendum on the post-Johnson Lions offense and his Bears rebuild. The NFC North rivalry framing should drive heightened national interest for the holiday window.

What to watch: Watch for the full 2026 schedule release tonight to confirm the Thanksgiving kickoff time and the rest of Detroit's slate. Reaction from Johnson and the Lions front office on the reunion game will follow the official unveiling.