Hallmark Channel is launching its 17th annual Countdown to Christmas with Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, a new holiday romance developed in collaboration with the NFL and the Chicago Bears. Starring Lyndsy Fonseca and Robert Buckley, the film premieres on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, before becoming available to stream on Hallmark+ the following day. As Hallmark continues to expand its partnership with professional football, the movie combines the network’s signature holiday storytelling with one of the NFL’s most recognizable franchises.
Set in Chicago during the Christmas season, the story follows Avery (Lyndsy Fonseca) and Matt (Robert Buckley), whose paths cross through their shared connection to football and the city’s close-knit community. As Christmas approaches, family traditions, neighborhood celebrations and the excitement surrounding the Chicago Bears gradually bring them together, turning an unexpected meeting into a holiday romance. The film also incorporates several of Chicago’s best-known landmarks, using the city’s football culture as an integral part of the story rather than simply a backdrop.
To reinforce that authenticity, Hallmark filmed portions of the production on location throughout Chicago, including inside the iconic Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. The real-world locations give the film a stronger sense of place while highlighting one of the NFL’s most historic franchises.
Fonseca leads the cast as Avery following roles in television series such as How I Met Your Mother and Nikita. Opposite her, Robert Buckley plays Matt after previously starring in One Tree Hill, iZombie and Chesapeake Shores. Together, they headline Hallmark’s latest holiday romance set against the backdrop of professional football.
Beyond its central love story, Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story reflects Hallmark’s growing relationship with the NFL. Produced in collaboration with the NFL and Skydance Sports, the film becomes the third installment in Hallmark’s expanding lineup of officially licensed football-themed holiday movies. The partnership allows the production to incorporate authentic elements of the Bears organization, including appearances from head coach Ben Johnson, players Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, mascot Staley Da Bear, and Connie Payton, helping blur the line between sports and seasonal entertainment.
The production also extended beyond the screen through a community initiative with Bears Care, the Chicago Bears’ charitable foundation. Hallmark auctioned walk-on roles in the film to season ticket holders, with proceeds supporting community programs across the region. The initiative connected fans directly with the production while raising funds for local charitable efforts.
Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story premieres on October 17 as the opening-night film of Hallmark Channel’s 17th annual Countdown to Christmas, with streaming on Hallmark+ beginning the following day. More broadly, the film continues Hallmark’s strategy of pairing its holiday programming with major sports brands, using official NFL partnerships, real stadiums and team personalities to expand one of television’s most successful seasonal events beyond traditional Christmas romances.
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