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Bears–Lions rivalry
NFC North Rivalry

Bears–Lions

The NFL's longest-running annual feud

Matchup:Bears–Lions
First Meeting:1930
Division:NFC North
2026 Meetings:2

A century-old NFC North clash between two charter-era franchises that have met every year since 1930, the longest unbroken annual series in the NFL. For most of its life it was a story of Chicago dominance, but Detroit has lately flipped the script.

The Rivalry

The teams first met in 1930 when Detroit's franchise was still the Portsmouth Spartans of Ohio; the club relocated and became the Lions in 1934, locking the two into a permanent division schedule. The defining early chapter came in 1932, when both teams finished level and the league staged its first-ever playoff game, moved indoors to Chicago Stadium because of brutal weather and decided 9-0 by the Bears. George Halas's Bears dominated for decades. The series grew far more even afterward, with Detroit roughly matching Chicago game-for-game over the following half-century. The rivalry runs hot because of pure proximity and frequency, with a Thanksgiving stage that puts the feud in front of a national audience.

What's at Stake

Both clubs live in the NFC North, so the matchup carries direct division and playoff-seeding weight every season. Detroit's recent surge — a first-ever division title in 2024 and a stretch of wins over Chicago — has sharpened the edge. The annual Thanksgiving game in Detroit makes this one of the league's most-watched holiday traditions.

Famous Moments

  • 1932 — The league's first playoff game, moved indoors to Chicago Stadium, ended 9-0 for the Bears.
  • 1934 — Detroit hosted its inaugural Thanksgiving Day game, beginning a tradition that has framed this rivalry ever since.
  • 2007 — The teams combined for 48 fourth-quarter points, an NFL record for a single quarter.
  • 2023 — Detroit erased a 26-14 deficit in the final minutes to win 31-26.
  • 2024 — A 23-20 Thanksgiving loss to the Lions preceded the Bears firing head coach Matt Eberflus.

The Bears–Lions Games in 2026

The Two Teams

Plan the Trip

This is a true Midwestern road trip. Chicago hosts at lakefront Soldier Field, the NFL's oldest and most intimate stadium; Detroit plays in the climate-controlled Ford Field downtown. The Thanksgiving edition in Detroit is the bucket-list pick — a holiday-afternoon game in a packed dome, easy to pair with a long weekend in either city.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bears–Lions

The two teams first met in 1930. A century-old NFC North clash between two charter-era franchises that have met every year since 1930, the longest unbroken annual series in the NFL. For most of its life it was a story of Chicago dominance, but Detroit has lately flipped the script.

Both clubs live in the NFC North, so the matchup carries direct division and playoff-seeding weight every season. Detroit's recent surge — a first-ever division title in 2024 and a stretch of wins over Chicago — has sharpened the edge. The annual Thanksgiving game in Detroit makes this one of the league's most-watched holiday traditions.

Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.

Chicago Bears host at Soldier Field in Chicago; Detroit Lions play at Ford Field in Detroit.

Sources

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