Panthers reportedly opening 2026 regular season against top NFC contender
The Panthers may be starting their 2026 regular-season schedule with a very interesting matchup.
The Carolina Panthers may be starting their NFC South title defense against another division winner. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Panthers will open their 2026 regular season against the Chicago Bears . The reported Week 1 matchup is slated to take place in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium.
Chicago, who finished the 2025 campaign at 11-6, is coming off their first NFC North championship since 2018. They entered the playoffs as the conference's No. 2 seed and exited with a 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.
Both teams' starting quarterbacks found their NFL homes via the Panthers' trade for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, where Bryce Young was selected. Part of the massive haul sent to the Bears included the eventual No.
1 overall pick of the 2024 draft, which was used on Caleb Williams. Carolina is 3-9 all-time against Chicago. Their last meeting came in 2024, and ended on a 36-10 win for the Bears.