The Chicago Bears open their 2026 season facing what many project as the NFL's toughest schedule, a challenge that echoes defensive tackle Grady Jarrett's experience with the 2016 Atlanta Falcons. That Falcons team entered the season with the league's hardest slate yet reached the Super Bowl, where Jarrett recorded a game-high three sacks of Tom Brady before watching New England overcome a 28-3 deficit. Speaking to reporters in Lake Forest, Ill., Jarrett emphasized the importance of embracing the challenge. "It's just a testament to how hard we worked last season," Jarrett said. "We've got a lot of primetime games [five]. People want to see us play. When we go out there and play, we've got to give them a show."

Chicago's 17-game schedule includes matchups against four division champions: the Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Eight of those games are against playoff teams from last season, and the combined winning percentage of Bears opponents was .550. The gauntlet begins Sunday with a road game against the NFC South champion Panthers at 1 p.m. ET on Fox.

Despite an 11-6 finish and NFC North title in 2025, coach Ben Johnson remains cautious. DraftKings Sportsbook projects the Bears to finish third in the NFC North behind the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Guard Joe Thuney, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, stressed that the team isn't satisfied with last year's success. "There's still a very, very strong burning hunger and desire to push more and keep improving," Thuney said.