Directed by Dustin Rikert, the film ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ centers on an ambitious freelance reporter Avery Clark, who returns to Chicago to spend Christmas with her mom and new stepdad, she’s hoping for a little holiday downtime before her next assignment. Instead, she lands a feel-good story profiling Darlene Donnelly, a beloved Chicago Bears superfan about to celebrate an incredible milestone – attending her 500th game. There’s just one catch: Avery knows next to nothing about football or Chicago. Enter Darlene’s handsome grandson Matt, a Chicago firefighter and die-hard Bears fan who, with a little gentle nudging from Darlene, agrees to show Avery what being part of Bears Nation is all about. As Avery follows Darlene’s remarkable story through cherished game-day traditions, festive Chicago adventures and memories of a love story that began at a stadium, she starts to understand that football is about much more than what happens on the field. And as sparks fly between Avery and Matt, this Christmas may just convince a woman who’s always on the move that sometimes the greatest adventure is finding a place, and someone, that feels like home.
‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ stars Lyndsy Fonseca (as Avery Clark), Robert Buckley (as Matt), Marsha Mason (as Darlene Donnelly), Barbara Alyn Woods (as Avery’s mother), and Khary Payton (as Avery’s stepfather Ron).
‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ is produced by Andrew Gernhard and Molly M. Mayeux, with executive producers Jessica Matthews and David O’Donnell. Production companies are Hallmark Media, Skydance Sports, NFL Films, Synthetic Cinema International.
The film’s cinematography is by Lars Lindstrom, with music by Tommy Fields.
Watch the first look trailer below:
Hallmark Channel will release ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ on Hallmark Channel on October 17, 2026, with streaming the next day on Hallmark+.
For more details, visit the official website here.
Lyndsy Fonseca is most known for How I Met Your Mother, Kick-Ass and Nikita. Robert Buckley is most known for One Tree Hill, iZombie, and Chesapeake Shores. Marsha Mason is most known for The Goodbye Girl, Cinderella Liberty, and Chapter Two. Barbara Alyn Woods is most known for One Tree Hill and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Khary Payton is most known for The Walking Dead and Young Justice.
