Darren Abbott said Hallmark wanted to keep the Holiday Touchdown run going, and the next stop is the bears. Hallmark Media, the NFL and Skydance Sports announced Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, a third collaborative Christmas special set for Hallmark Channel’s 17th annual Countdown to Christmas later this year.
The project adds another NFL franchise to the holiday-film formula after the first two Holiday Touchdown movies began with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and then moved to the Buffalo Bills. Abbott said the Chicago Bears fit the template because of their history, supporters and the reach of the franchise beyond football.
Chicago casting dates
June 29-30 are the fitting dates for extras, and July 7-8 are the filming dates in Chicago. Hallmark’s casting call says extras will work as football fans, wearing Bears apparel and winter attire while the scenes are shot.
Colston Loveland and Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson posted a video on social media on Thursday sharing the news. Kevin Warren said the club wants to deepen its connection with fans and create a movie that grows with them, while Jessica Matthews said few fan bases carry their team’s history the way Chicago carries the Bears, with a devotion passed down from generation to generation.
Chicago and Hammond, Indiana
This summer’s production keeps the movie centered in and around Chicago even as the Bears said this month that it was moving ahead on plans for a new stadium in Hammond, Indiana, almost an hour south. That leaves the film tied to the city’s identity at the same time the franchise is signaling a different long-term home base.
For Chicago fans who want to be in the frame, the practical route is simple: show up for the June fittings if selected, then be ready for the July shoot with the right wardrobe. The larger question is which actors and football figures will appear in the third Holiday Touchdown movie, since Thursday’s announcement kept the reveal for later.
