The Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, with kickoff at noon Central on Netflix, and the team plans to wear its navy and orange Rivalries uniforms for the game. That makes navy and orange the colors to plan around this December. The three ideas below cover the main outfit, a keepsake and the couch: a navy football ugly sweater with orange numbers, a navy-and-orange hoodie ornament and a pajama set with a navy-and-orange option.
Why Christmas Day Is the Bears' Big Holiday Game
A Christmas game is rare for this franchise. The team's schedule announcement says Chicago is set to play on Christmas Day for just the third time in franchise history, and the first time since 2011. It also marks the first time in franchise history that the Bears play games on both Thanksgiving and Christmas in the same regular season.
The opponent adds to it. The Bears close the regular season with three straight division games, and the Christmas matchup with Green Bay comes right after a Saturday night trip to Buffalo. Chicago beat Green Bay in both meetings at Soldier Field last season, postseason included, which gives fans in both colors plenty to talk about over dinner.
Matching the Rivalries Navy and Orange
The Bears revealed the Rivalries uniform they will wear on Christmas Day in August. The jersey is navy with orange numerals outlined in white, the helmet is orange with a navy C, and the pants are orange with a double navy-and-white stripe. According to the team, staying true to the Bears' traditional colors was a top priority in the design.
For holiday clothes, that means navy as the base color, orange for the numbers and details, and white only as a thin outline. A mostly orange outfit can work for a second piece, but a navy base looks closest to the jersey you will see on the screen.
| Holiday idea | Best for | When it gets used |
|---|---|---|
| Navy football ugly sweater | The fan who wants one outfit for the game and parties | Holiday parties, Christmas Day, later December games |
| Hoodie ornament | A stocking gift or family keepsake | every Christmas after this one |
| Navy-and-orange pajamas | Families watching at home | Christmas morning through the noon kickoff |
1. A Navy Football Ugly Sweater With Orange Numbers
This is the piece most fans will wear the most. A navy sweater with bright orange numbers, cuffs and hem lines up closely with a navy jersey with orange numerals, and the ugly-sweater knit pattern keeps it right for a holiday party rather than a tailgate. A Santa holding a football on the front and a name and number on the back give it a game-day feel without any team marks.
It suits the fan who wants one outfit that works at the office party, at a relative's house on Christmas morning and in front of the TV at noon. Size up slightly if you like to layer a long-sleeve tee underneath; a crowded living room gets warm by the fourth quarter.
2. A Navy-and-Orange Hoodie Ornament
A sweater is for this December; an ornament is for every December after it. A small navy hoodie ornament with an orange pennant, orange sleeve stripes and a name and number turns the season into something that goes back on the tree each year. It is a good fit for the fan who already owns plenty of game-day clothes, for a grandparent who watches every game, or for a child's first season following the team.
Adding the year makes the most sense here. A Christmas game that happens for only the third time in franchise history is the kind of season people like to remember, and a dated ornament does that quietly. It also travels well as a gift for a fan who lives far from Chicago.
3. Navy-and-Orange Pajamas for a Noon Kickoff
A noon kickoff on Christmas changes the dress code. Gifts are opened in the morning, the game starts before most holiday dinners and plenty of families never change out of their pajamas. A matching pajama set in navy with orange lettering keeps everyone in the colors without anyone having to get dressed twice.
Pajamas also solve the group-photo problem. When the whole family wears the same set with different names on the tops, the picture by the tree doubles as a game-day photo. Choose a slightly relaxed fit for kids so the set still works for the rest of winter break.
Planning a Bears and Packers Christmas at Home
Plenty of Chicago-area families have relatives who cheer for Green Bay, and a Christmas game puts them on the same couch. A few simple choices keep the day festive:
- Set the menu around the kickoff. With the game starting at noon, a late brunch before kickoff and a holiday dinner after the final whistle avoids carving the turkey during the fourth quarter.
- Check the stream early. The game is on Netflix, so make sure the account works on the living-room TV the day before, not at 11:55 a.m.
- Give both sides a seat. A split-color sweatshirt or a house-divided ornament lets a mixed family show both loyalties in one photo.
- Keep the stakes holiday-sized. The losing side clears the table or takes the dog for a walk.
Once the holiday is over, the same navy and orange pieces get one more home game: the Bears close their home schedule against the Detroit Lions in Week 17.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I watch the Bears and Packers on Christmas Day?
Kickoff between the Bears and Packers is set for noon Central on Netflix on Christmas Day, with Chicago hosting the game at Soldier Field.
When did the Bears last play on Christmas?
Before this season, the most recent Christmas game for the Bears was in 2011. This year's game is just the third time the franchise has played on Christmas Day.
Are the Bears also playing on Thanksgiving this year?
Yes. The Bears play the Detroit Lions in Detroit on Thanksgiving Day at noon Central on CBS, so the same sweater can come out for both holidays.
What should a Bears-Packers family wear on Christmas?
Let each person wear their own team's colors and add one shared piece, such as matching pajama bottoms or a split-color sweatshirt. It keeps the rivalry friendly and the family photo looking like one family.
Sources
If a navy-and-orange sweater is on your list this year, the ugly sweater collection has more color combinations to compare.
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