Chicago Bears' Expected Game In Germany Now Reportedly In Doubt

The Chicago Bears haven't played an overseas game since their trip to London in 2019. So it came as a surprise when initial reports surfaced that they were the expected team to face off against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the league's first foray into Germany. It made sense. Chicago has a strong overseas presence dating back to the 1980s, and Patrick Mahomes is the league's biggest star. Scheduling that matchup must've felt like the perfect opportunity to generate international interest.

It seems the NFL may have jumped the gun on that. They assumed both teams would be OK with such an arrangement. They were mistaken. According to Peter King of NBC Sports, the Chiefs have put in a formal request that the Bears not be the team they face in Germany.

"Not so fast on the reports of Kansas City dominating the Germany games in 2023 and 2024. Kansas City is playing a November game in Frankfurt this year; that’s a fact. The German newspaper Bild reported KC would play Chicago in the Germany game, and that KC would play again in Germany in 2024 when Carolina is due to host a game there. Bild reported Carolina’s 2024 foe would be Kansas City. I’ve been told there’s some doubt on both of those reports. First: When a team gives up one of its home games to play overseas, it has the option of requesting to the league one home game on its schedule the team does not want moved. I’m told Kansas City requested that the Chicago game not be played overseas."

The reasoning for this isn't clear, but it's not hard to surmise.

Few fanbases travel better than the Bears. They always show up to every road game in vast numbers. It is a major money boon for the hosting stadium as well as local businesses. The Chiefs stand to lose a lot of revenue if they let the NFL move this game to Germany.

The Chicago Bears likely hope the Chiefs are successful.

While this would mean playing in the tough road venue of Arrowhead Stadium, it would be a far easier trek from a travel standpoint. A flight from Chicago to Kansas City is only 90 minutes. Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, would be eight hours and 25 minutes. That is a long haul and threatens to tire out players, especially if they end up losing. Everybody remembers four years ago. The Bears were 3-1 going into the London matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. A crushing 24-21 loss began a four-game losing streak that almost ruined their entire season.

So don't expect Chicago Bears team brass to protest having the game moved back to Kansas City. Players and coaches would likely prefer it this way. It's not yet clear whether the NFL will acquiesce to the Chiefs' wishes. It may depend on whether they can find another team on their schedule to replace the Bears. That might explain why King said the release of the schedule is likely going to be delayed. This will be a story to watch.