Lions will play Bears on NFL Thanksgiving game in 2026
Lions' Dan Campbell said in March he and Bears' Ben Johnson have 'a good relationship' but 'want to beat the crap out of each other' when they play.
Ben Johnson broke some Detroit Lions fans hearts when he left for the division rival Chicago Bears . Now, he'll try and spoil their Thanksgiving. The Lions will host Johnson and the Bears in their annual Thanksgiving game Nov.
26 at Ford Field, according to The Schultz Report on Wednesday. Johnson, the Lions offensive coordinator in 2022-24, lead the Bears to an NFC North title in his first season as coach last fall but went 0-2 against the Lions. The Lions beat the Bears at Ford Field in Week 2 last season, 52-21, and edged Chicago in the season finale, 19-16.
The Bears finished 11-6 and reached the divisional round of the playoffs, while the Lions went 9-8 and missed the postseason. Asked about his relationship with Johnson at the NFL's annual meeting in March, Lions coach Dan Campbell said he has "a lot of respect for Ben. " "It's a good relationship," Campbell said.
"Our families were around each other, his kids, his wife, him. I mean, when you’re with somebody as long as I was with Ben, you’re going to have a relationship. Now, when we play each other we want to beat the crap out of each other, that’s the nature of the business.