The annual NFL Schedule Release has become somewhat of a holiday for football-hungry fans anticipating the upcoming season. This year, the schedule will be announced on Thursday, May 14, at 7 PM CST. The Bears have the league's sixth-most-difficult schedule based on projected win totals . That's not much of a surprise, since they are playing a first-place schedule in one of the league's toughest divisions. However, there are significant reasons for optimism with the schedule , including the fact that they host nine home games this season (as does the rest of the conference). While we don't yet know the full extent of Chicago's schedule, we do know a few notable aspects of it ahead of the official release. Home Opponents Jan 18, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary acknowledges the crowd during the fourth quarter of an NFC Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field.…