<p id=”par-1_11″>Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas is kicking off in a big way. </p>
<p id=”par-2_24″>The 2026 holiday programming event begins this weekend with a trio of all-new premieres, including Hallmark’s latest movie <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/hallmark-shares-first-look-at-buffalo-bills-christmas-movie.html/”>produced in partnership with the NFL</a>. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-caleb-williams-mike-singletary-cameo-on-holiday-touchdown-a-bears-love-story”>Caleb Williams, Mike Singletary cameo on ‘Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story’ </h2>
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<iframe title=”First Look | Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story | Premieres October 17 8/7c” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/QvCgbsqdAao?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/every-countdown-to-christmas-movie-airing-2026-hallmark.html/”>
Every Single ‘Countdown to Christmas’ Movie Airing This Year on Hallmark </a>
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<p id=”par-3_85″><em>Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story </em>premieres Saturday, October 17. The movie stars Lyndsy Fonseca as an ambitious freelance reporter named Avery. She lands a feel-good story profiling a Bears superfan named Darlene (Marsha Mason) who is about to attend her 500th game. But Avery know virtually nothing about football, so she turns to Darlene’s grandson, Matt (Robert Buckley) for help figuring out what being a Bears fan is all about. As Avery gets to know Darlene, sparks start to fly between her and Matt. </p>
<p id=”par-4_45″>As with previous Hallmark NFL movies, viewers can expect to see some familiar faces on screen in <em>Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story. </em>The film will feature cameos from current Bears players, the team’s coach, and some legendary Bears alumni. Keep an eye out for: </p>
<ul>
<li>Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson</li>
<li><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/chicago-bears-quarterback-caleb-williams-ethnicity.html/”>Bears quarterback Caleb Williams</a></li>
<li>Bears tight end Colston Loveland</li>
<li>Bears tight end Cole Kmet </li>
<li>Former Bears linebacker Mike Singletary</li>
<li>Former Bears cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman</li>
<li>Former Bears defensive tackle Dan Hampton</li>
<li>Connie Payton, wife of the late Bears running back Walter Payton</li>
<li>Bears mascot Staley Da Bear </li>
</ul>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-bears-coach-ben-johnson-weighs-in-on-hallmark-movie”>Bears coach Ben Johnson weighs in on Hallmark movie </h2>
<p id=”par-5_43″>Johnson was too busy preparing for Sunday’s upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons to attend a special screening of the movie in the Chicago area on Tuesday. But he did say he appreciated seeing the Hallmark actors and crew in action on set. </p>
<p id=”par-6_61″>“Yeah, I tell you, the best part for me was just seeing another profession in their element,” he said (via <a href=”https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/onsi/bears-hallmark-movie-question-gets-predictable-ben-johnson-answer” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Sports Illustrated</a>). “I have a ton of respect for the lead actors and actresses and how they interacted, and then the director taking control. I thought it was pretty cool to see behind the scenes just how that all took place.”</p>
<p id=”par-7_11″>Making a movie isn’t unlike playing a football game, he observed. </p>
<p id=”par-8_51″>“Honestly, there’s some similarities to what we do here in a lot of ways, just being able to choreograph a bunch of individuals on the same page,” he said. “There’s urgency. And yet you still want to see it all come together in the end. So, it was fun to watch.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_23″><em>Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story </em>airs Saturday, October 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel. Streaming the next day on Hallmark+. </p>
<p id=”par-10_11″><em>For more news and exclusive interviews, follow </em><a href=”https://www.instagram.com/showbizcheatsheet/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”><em>Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram</em></a><em>. </em></p>