Every Chicago Bears Player and Legend in Hallmark’s Holiday Touchdown

Hallmark is launching its annual Countdown to Christmas celebration with plenty of holiday spirit.

The 2026 seasonal lineup begins this weekend with three brand-new movie premieres, including the network’s newest collaboration with the NFL.

Caleb Williams, Mike Singletary cameo on ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ 

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story arrives Saturday, October 17. Lyndsy Fonseca plays Avery, a driven freelance journalist assigned to write about Darlene (Marsha Mason), a devoted Chicago Bears fan preparing to attend her 500th game. Since Avery knows next to nothing about football, she seeks guidance from Darlene’s grandson Matt (Robert Buckley), who helps her understand what the team means to his grandmother—and to generations of Bears fans. Along the way, Avery and Matt begin to develop feelings for each other.

Like Hallmark’s earlier NFL-themed movies, Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story will include appearances from current players, team personnel and celebrated alumni. Viewers may spot:

Bears coach Ben Johnson weighs in on Hallmark movie 

Johnson could not make Tuesday’s special Chicago-area screening because he was preparing for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Still, the Bears coach said he enjoyed getting a glimpse of the Hallmark production while it was being filmed.

“Yeah, I tell you, the best part for me was just seeing another profession in their element,” he said, via Sports Illustrated. “I have a ton of respect for the lead actors and actresses and how they interacted, and then the director taking control. I thought it was pretty cool to see behind the scenes just how that all took place.”

He noted that producing a movie has some similarities to playing a football game.

“Honestly, there’s some similarities to what we do here in a lot of ways, just being able to choreograph a bunch of individuals on the same page,” he said. “There’s urgency. And yet you still want to see it all come together in the end. So, it was fun to watch.”

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story airs Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. Streaming the next day on Hallmark+. 

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