Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story (2026): Cast, Story and

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story pairs an ambitious Chicago reporter with a devoted Bears family during the holiday season. When Avery Clark is assigned to profile superfan Darlene Donnelly before her 500th game, Darlene’s grandson Matt becomes her guide to football, Chicago and Bears Nation.

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story is a 2026 Christmas romantic comedy-drama set around Chicago football culture. The story brings together a freelance reporter searching for a quieter holiday and a family whose connection to the Chicago Bears is central to their lives.

Directed by Dustin Rikert, the film combines romance, comedy, drama and sports elements. Its premise centers on Avery Clark’s assignment to cover an extraordinary fan milestone—and the unexpected relationship that develops as she learns more about the team and its community.

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story movie details

Story without spoilers

Avery Clark returns to Chicago to spend Christmas with her mother and new stepfather, expecting time away before beginning her next assignment. Instead, she is asked to profile Darlene Donnelly, a beloved Chicago Bears superfan preparing to attend her 500th game.

Avery’s limited knowledge of football and Chicago makes the assignment more complicated. Darlene’s grandson Matt, a Chicago firefighter and committed Bears fan, agrees to introduce Avery to Bears Nation. With Darlene encouraging the connection, Avery and Matt spend time together while Avery works on the story and adjusts to a world she barely knows.

What to expect

The film is built around a Christmas setting, a sports-centered community and a developing romance. Viewers can expect the Chicago Bears, American football fandom and Darlene’s 500-game milestone to play important roles in the premise.

Its genre mix points to a light holiday story with dramatic and comedic elements, while the contrast between Avery’s outsider perspective and Matt’s deep connection to Chicago and the Bears provides the central source of conflict and connection.

Cast and creative team

Lyndsy Fonseca plays Avery, with Robert Buckley as Matt and Marsha Mason as Darlene. Khary Payton appears as Ron, Barbara Alyn Woods as Jody, Jasmine Baker as a Chicago Bears team reporter and Tony Domino as a fan. Caleb Williams appears as himself, while Marilu Henner and Tamera Mowry-Housley are also part of the cast. Dustin Rikert directs the film. No writer is listed in the supplied credits.

• Robert Buckley as Matt
• Khary Payton as Ron
• Marsha Mason as Darlene
• Lyndsy Fonseca as Avery
• Jasmine Baker as Chicago Bears Team Reporter
• Barbara Alyn Woods as Jody
• Tony Domino as Fan
• Caleb Williams as Self
• Marilu Henner
• Tamera Mowry-Housley

Release and production context

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story is listed as released on October 17, 2026. It is a United States production in English, with production companies Skydance Sports, Synthetic Cinema International and NFL Films. The supplied metadata does not include a runtime.

Production companies: Skydance Sports, Synthetic Cinema International, NFL Films

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its Christmas setting, Chicago location and focus on an extraordinary Bears fan milestone, the film places a personal love story inside a recognizable sports community. Its appeal rests on the meeting of Avery’s reporting assignment, Matt’s local football knowledge and Darlene’s longstanding devotion to the team.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb