The NFL schedule makers have served up a Thanksgiving Day matchup that's dripping with drama: the Detroit Lions will host Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears on November 26 at Ford Field in 2026. This isn't just another holiday game—it's a reunion with a side of revenge.

For Lions fans, Johnson's departure to a division rival stung. After three seasons as Detroit's offensive coordinator, he took the Bears' head coaching job and immediately led Chicago to an NFC North title. But here's the twist: despite their division crown, the Bears went 0-2 against the Lions last season, including a 52-21 blowout at Ford Field and a tight 19-16 loss in the finale.

The Bears finished 11-6 and reached the divisional round, while the Lions went 9-8 and missed the playoffs. Those records tell only part of the story—this rivalry is personal.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell didn't mince words about his relationship with Johnson when asked at the NFL's annual meeting in March. "It's a good relationship," Campbell said. "Our families were around each other. 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. But that doesn't mean he's not a friend."

The Lions have struggled on Thanksgiving, losing eight of their last nine holiday games. Their lone win in that stretch came against—you guessed it—the Bears in 2024.

This game is part of a packed Lions schedule that already includes a Thursday night road game against the Buffalo Bills on September 17 (the first game at Buffalo's new stadium) and an international matchup against the New England Patriots in Munich on November 15.

With Johnson returning to Ford Field on a day when the Lions traditionally struggle, this Thanksgiving game has all the ingredients for a classic: old friends, new rivalries, and two teams with plenty to prove. Grab your Lions gear and mark your calendars—this one's going to be special.