Caleb Williams and Bears Players Predict Their Opponent for 2026 Home Opener
The Chicago Bears authored two of the most thrilling wins of the 2025 NFL season, and they were made all the sweeter because they came against the Green Bay Packers, their century-long rival.
Quarterback Caleb Williams etched himself in Bears lore forever by launching a 46-yard walk-off touchdown pass to complete an improbable 22-16 comeback win in overtime against Green Bay on Dec. 20.
The Packers thought they were en route to avenging that loss when they led the Bears 21-3 at halftime of their NFC Wild Card game in January. But the Bears did it again - grating the Packers’ spirit into oblivion with a 31-27 comeback victory to end their season.
Williams wants another crack at the Packers as soon as possible.
On Monday, the Bears posted a video showing Williams, tight end Colston Loveland, wide receiver Rome Odunze, and other players guessing who they’ll host first at Soldier Field next season. Their first collective guess was the New England Patriots, but then Williams said, “What if it was GB? I’m saying, just off the end of the year last year.”
Odunze pushed back, “They wouldn’t do that. I’m gonna say Patriots.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles also received votes.
The Bears’ confirmed 2026 home opponents are the Packers, Lions, Buccaneers, Eagles, Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New Orleans Saints. Their away games will be at Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Atlanta, Buffalo, Miami, Carolina, and Seattle.
The NFL is slowly unveiling the schedule for next season this week, with the full team schedule releases dropping on Thursday night. The Seattle Seahawks will host the first game of the 2026 season, as is customary for the defending Super Bowl champion every year, and the Bears have been a popular prediction as the Seahawks’ opening-night opponent.
All will be revealed soon enough.
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This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 6:06 PM.