Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story on Hallmark Channel – Release Date, Cast and How to Watch

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story is the second movie in the Hallmark Channel Countdown to Christmas 2026 celebration. The movie features Lyndsy Fonseca and Robert Buckley.

Countdown to Christmas 2026 is in full swing. The first weekend’s lineup includes Holiday Touchdown, ‘Tis the Season for Setups and Mr. and Mrs. Christmas.

In addition to Countdown to Christmas 2026, you can check out this year’s Christmas in July lineup, streaming now on Hallmark Plus: Love Under the Mistletoe, Christmas Under Construction, O Little Christmas Market, Snowbound for the Holidays. You’ll also be able to catch Christmas at Sea season 2.

Here’s what you need to know about Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story.

What is Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story about?

Here’s the synopsis from Hallmark Channel:

“When ambitious freelance reporter Avery Clark (Fonseca) returns to Chicago to spend Christmas with her mom (Woods) and new stepdad (Payton), she’s hoping for a little holiday downtime before her next assignment.  Instead, she lands a feel-good story profiling Darlene Donnelly (Mason), 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 (Buckley), 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.”

Who is in it?

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story features Lyndsy Fonseca (The Love Heist, Don’t Move) as Avery, Robert Buckley (Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper!) as Matt, Marsha Mason (The Good Wife) as Darlene, Barbara Alyn Woods (One Tree Hill) as Jody and Khary Payton (The Walking Dead) as Ron.

The movie also includes several cameo appearances: Chicago Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson, quarterback Caleb Williams, tight end Colston Loveland, tight end Cole Kmet, legendary Bears alumni Mike Singletary, Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Dan Hampton, Connie Payton, wife of the late Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, and the team’s beloved mascot Staley Da Bear, as well as Tamera Mowry-Housley, Marilu Henner, Jake Connelly and Dyon “Mojo” Brooks.

How to watch Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story

Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story premieres Saturday, October 17, at 8pm ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. The movie will be available to stream the following day on Hallmark Plus.

Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery are included in many cable TV packages. You can also access Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Mystery via Philo, Sling TV, Frndly TV, Hulu with Live TV, YouTube TV and Fubo. Hallmark Plus is a standalone streaming service that requires its own subscription; new movies and series are available to stream on the platform day after they air.

Watch Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story trailer

The preview and sneak peek haven’t been released yet, but as soon as they’re available we’ll have them for you right here.

Which of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas 2026 movies are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments!