Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and others are calling their shot that could give Chicago the toughest challenge possible in 2026
It’s NFL schedule release week and the Chicago Bears are still awaiting the official announcements for what games will be played for each week during the 17-game 2026 season.
The NFL schedule release is about to be upon us and by Thursday night, the NFL will announce the full 18-week regular season schedule for all 32 teams, including the Chicago Bears.
Currently, Chicago hasn’t leaked a single game from its upcoming schedule, which only builds more anticipation for the official announcement later this week. It also gives plenty of time for speculation and predictions, including from some of the players themselves.
Chicago Bears players share which team they’d like to face in the regular season home opener
On Monday, the Chicago Bears social media account posted a video asking various players who they’d like to face in the home opener at Soldier Field. It’s worth noting that Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Roschon Johnson, Braxton Jones and others all said they’d like to host the New England Patriots, the reigning AFC Champions, in their first home game of the 2026 season.
Other options mentioned by other players included the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Jets.
If Williams and others get their wish with the Bears facing the Patriots in the home opener, it could set up for a daunting start to the regular season for Chicago.
Bears at Seahawks is essentially a lock for Week 1, and New England in Week 2 would be fascinating
It’s basically all but guaranteed that the Bears will open the regular season against the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl Champions, on Wednesday night in Week 1. Chicago is one of the five candidates still in contention to kick off the season in Seattle.
ESPN insider Adam Schefter even guessed that the Bears will be the team selected to open the season against the defending Super Bowl champions.
So, imagine if the season kicks off at Seattle and then home against New England in Week 2, meaning Chicago would face the two Super Bowl teams from the 2025 season in their first two regular season games. Talk about a challenge out of the gate, and it’s entirely possible.
Head coach Ben Johnson is always up for any challenge and wants his team competing against the best in the world, but man that would be a brutal start to Year 2 of this new era.