Nothing gets NFL fans more excited than the news of having some new uniforms. For Chicago Bears fans, that is exactly what Chicago's fanbase will get in the 2026 NFL season.
According to NFL.com, Nike and the National Football League are “announcing Rivalries, a new and exciting uniform and fan gear program that will give athletes and fans an opportunity to connect like never before. The program will elevate NFL rivalry games over the next four seasons, with specially designed Nike uniforms and fan gear. Rivalries will drive fan engagement by celebrating storied traditions and uniting communities with unique and elevated product designs.”
These new designs were unveiled during the 2025 NFL season with teams from the AFC East (Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets) and NFC West (Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks). The new uniforms are “rooted extensively in local community insights during a single home game against a division rival.” The alternative uniforms also won't be unveiled for just one season; they will be featured in the team's lineup for three years after their introduction. In 2026, the AFC South and NFC North will debut their Rivalries uniforms.
Bears to wear one-time new uniforms in 2026
It couldn't have come at a better time for the Bears. After an 11-6 season that featured an NFC North title and a playoff victory against the Green Bay Packers, there is plenty of excitement for head coach Ben Johnson's team heading into the 2026 season.
Now, fans will have the chance to see their beloved team in uniforms inspired by their respective communities and cities.
The rivalries within the NFC North couldn't be any more prominent as well. In all three games against the Packers last season, those contests came down to the closing minutes. Johnson's former team, the Detroit Lions, swept the Bears last season. The Minnesota Vikings pulled off a comeback in Week 1 last season to defeat Chicago, but the Bears came away with a victory in the second meeting after a 61-yard kick return by Devin Duvernay helped put kicker Cairo Santos in position to convert on the 48-yard game-winning field goal.
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These NFC North matchups should be can't-miss TV, and new uniforms only add to the excitement for next season.