Bears-Lions Rivalry

The NFL's longest-running annual series, played every season since 1930.

The Bears-Lions rivalry is the NFL division rivalry between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions. The teams first met in 1930, when the Lions were still the Portsmouth Spartans of Ohio, and they have played at least once in every season since, the longest-running annual series in the league.

Quick Facts

Location

Chicago, Detroit

First meeting

October 22
1930; Spartans 7
Bears 6

Latest meeting

January 4
2026; Lions 19
Bears 16

Stadiums

Bears: Soldier Field; Lions: Ford Field

Total meetings

192

Largest victory

Bears: 49–0 (1941); Lions: 42–0 (1968)

Most points scored

Bears: 49 (1941); Lions: 55 (1997)

Longest win streak

Bears: 11 (1946–1951); Lions: 6 (1968–1970, 2013–2015)

Facts from the source article.

Background

The two clubs have shared a division since 1933 and normally meet twice a year; 1987 is the only season they skipped. Chicago ruled the early decades under George Halas, going 47-22-4 against Detroit through 1965, but the series has been close since then, with Detroit ahead 60-58-1 over that stretch even though the Bears have had far more playoff success. Soldier Field and Ford Field are about 280 miles apart along I-94.