Bears’ Ben Johnson, Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland to appear in Hallmark Channel movie

Ben Johnson made his acting debut over the summer when he filmed a brief appearance in a Bears-themed Hallmark Channel movie.

Two of Johnson’s players appear in “Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story,” which will premiere Oct. 17 on the Hallmark Channel. Tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet have a small role in the movie, too.

Johnson, who had never acted before, joked Thursday morning that he and Kmet “took a lot of acting classes this offseason — so we were ready for this.”

Loveland was fine, he deadpanned.

“He did not need them,” he said. “It was natural.”

Two Pro Football Hall of Famers — Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary — and beloved former Bears cornerback Charles Tillman will be in the TV movie. Connie Payton, Walter’s widow, has a part, too, the team announced Wednesday.

Last month, crews filmed the Christmas-themed movie at a reconstructed Christkindlmarket.

The Bears are the third NFL team to participate in a Hallmark movie, joining the Bills and Chiefs.