For just the second time in the past 16 years, the NFL season will not open at the home of the defending Super Bowl champions.
The NFL announced Monday that the Bears will host the Packers in the NFL Kickoff Game to open the upcoming 2019 regular season. The matchup of traditional rivals will is part of a season-long celebration of the league’s 100th season. Sports Business Daily first reported the NFL’s intentions last month.
The defending champion Patriots will open the season on Sunday Night Football. Their opponent will be revealed when the NFL schedule is announced, presumably next month.
Since 2004, the defending Super Bowl champions have hosted the NFL Kickoff Game in all-but-one year. The exception was 2013, when the champion Ravens had to face the Broncos on the road because of a scheduling conflict with the MLB Orioles.
This year will mark the first time since 2003 that the defending champions did not play in the Kickoff Game at all. That year, the Jets faced Washington in the Kickoff Game, and the champion Buccaneers opened play on Sunday.
The Packers last played in the NFL Kickoff Game in 2014. The Bears have never played in the game.
[News from NFL Communications 3.25]
