About two hours before releasing its complete 2022 schedule, the NFL announced that the Bears will open the season by hosting the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Sept. 11 at noon at Soldier Field.
This will be the fourth time that the Bears begin a season against the 49ers, but the first time at home. The previous three instances all have been in San Francisco, with the Bears winning 30-14 in 1962 and losing 52-24 in 1965 and 49-7 in 2003.
The 1965 contest featured the NFL debut of two future Hall of Famers in middle linebacker Dick Butkus and running back Gale Sayers, who were selected by the Bears with the third and fourth overall picks in the 1965 draft, respectively.
The Bears and 49ers have alternated winning the last seven meetings, with the Bears recording victories in 2014, 2016 and 2018 and losses in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2021. In their most recent meeting last Halloween in Chicago, the 49ers outscored the Bears 24-6 over the game's final 21 minutes to turn a 16-9 deficit into a 33-22 win.
This year marks the first time that the Bears will open at home since 2019, when they kicked off the NFL's 100th season with a 10-3 Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
The Bears have lost seven of their last eight season openers, falling to the Buffalo Bills in 2014, the Packers in 2015, 2018 and 2019, the Houston Texans in 2016, the Atlanta Falcons in 2017 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. Their only Week 1 win since 2013 came in 2020 when they rallied from a 23-6 deficit entering the fourth quarter to stun the Detroit Lions 27-23 at Ford Field.
Check out the Bears' home and away matchups for the 2022 season.
Home vs. Detroit Lions
Last meeting in Chicago: October 3rd, 2021
Score: Bears 24 - Lions 14
Bears lead all-time series 104-75-5
Home vs. Minnesota Vikings
Last meeting in Chicago: December 20th, 2021
Score: Bears 9 - Vikings 17
Vikings lead all-time series 63-57-2
Home vs. Green Bay Packers
Last meeting in Chicago: October 17th, 2021
Score: Bears 14 - Packers 24
Packers lead all-time series 103-95-6
Home vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Last meeting in Chicago: September 19th, 2016
Score: Bears 14 - Eagles 29
Bears lead all-time series 29-16-1
Home vs. Washington Commanders
Last meeting in Chicago: December 24th, 2016
Score: Bears 21 - Washington 41
Washington leads all-time series 26-24-1
Home vs. Buffalo Bills
Last meeting in Chicago: September 7th, 2014
Score: Bears 20 - Bills 23
Bears lead all-time series 8-5-0
Home vs. Miami Dolphins
Last meeting in Chicago: October 19th, 2014
Score: Bears 14 - Dolphins 27
Dolphins lead all-time series 9-4-0
Home vs. San Francisco 49ers
Last meeting in Chicago: October 31st, 2021
Score: Bears 22 - 49ers 33
49ers lead all-time series 35-32-1
Home vs. Houston Texans
Last meeting in Chicago: December 13th, 2020
Score: Bears 36 - Texans 7
Texans lead all-time series 4-1-0
Away vs. Detroit Lions
Last meeting in Detroit: November 25th, 2021
Score: Bears 16 - Lions 14
Bears lead all-time series 104-75-5
Away vs. Minnesota Vikings
Last meeting in Minnesota: January 9th, 2022
Score: Bears 17 - Vikings 31
Vikings lead all-time series 63-57-2
Away vs. Green Bay Packers
Last meeting in Green Bay: December 12th, 2021
Score: Bears 30 - Packers 45
Packers lead all-time series 103-95-6
Away vs. Dallas Cowboys
Last meeting in Dallas: September 25th, 2016
Score: Bears 17 - Cowboys 31
Cowboys lead all-time series 15-12-0
Away vs. New York Giants
Last meeting in New York: December 2nd, 2018
Score: Bears 27 - Giants 30
Bears lead all-time series 36-24-2
Away vs. New England Patriots
Last meeting in New England: October 26th, 2014
Score: Bears 23 - Patriots 51
Patriots lead all-time series 10-4-0
Away vs. New York Jets
Last meeting in New York: September 22nd, 2014
Score: Bears 27 - Jets 19
Bears lead all-time series 9-3-0
Away vs. Atlanta Falcons
Last meeting in Atlanta: September 27th, 2020
Score: Bears 30 - Falcons 26
Bears lead all-time series 15-13-0
