The Chicago Bears announced that nominations are now open for the 2025 NFL Fan of the Year contest, including both the domestic and international programs. This annual initiative, created in partnership with all 32 NFL teams, celebrates fans whose passion for football inspires others and creates a positive impact in their communities.

The Bears are looking for fans whose passion goes beyond the scoreboard, those who embody the spirit of the team, uplift others and make a meaningful impact in their communities. Whether nominating yourself or someone else, the application is designed to spotlight the story behind the fandom.

Fans can submit nominations for either program at NFL.com/FanOfTheYear. Each submission includes a series of prompts to capture the nominee’s journey, love for the game and the ways they bring Bears fandom to life.

Domestic NFL Fan of the Year

Open to Bears fans who reside in the United States or the District of Columbia and are at least 21 years old, the domestic program honors those who exemplify what it means to be part of the Bears Nation. Nominations will be evaluated on:

  • Love for the Chicago Bears, from game day spirit to lifelong fandom
  • An inspiring story that shows what being a fan is all about
  • Someone who loves giving back and finds joy in making a difference in their community

The domestic nomination window closes on Sept. 29, and the NFL will announce each team’s nominee, including the Bears, during the week of Nov. 6. All 32 honorees will receive an exclusive experience at Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, Calif., including two game tickets, roundtrip airfare, hotel accommodations and access to VIP events throughout the weekend. One ultimate winner will be crowned NFL Fan of the Year at NFL Honors, representing their club on one of the league’s biggest stages.

In 2024, lifelong Bears fan Mackenzie Currans was surprised at Halas Hall by linebackers T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds, who presented her with Super Bowl LIX tickets and the news that she was the team’s nominee for the NFL Fan of the Year. A devoted fan since the 1980s, Currans was honored not only for her passion for the Bears but also for raising more than $77,000 to support cancer patients in her community. She attended Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, La., earlier this year, proudly representing the Bears.

Previous honorees include Shameka Leach (2023), Corey Schieler (2022), Destiny Blackmon (2021) and Paul Videtich (2020), each of whom proudly represented the Bears while making a positive impact in their communities.

NFL International Fan of the Year

Now in its third year, the NFL International Fan of the Year program gives Bears fans around the world the opportunity to be recognized for their exceptional fandom.

Open to Bears fans in eligible international markets who are at least 21 years old, the program uses similar criteria as the domestic contest, evaluating passion for the Bears, an inspiring personal story and the love in giving back to their communities. Fans can visit NFL.com/FanOfTheYear to check country eligibility.

The international nomination window runs from Aug. 14 through Nov. 17, with the NFL announcing each team’s nominee, including the Bears, on Feb. 23, 2026. Each honoree will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, Pa., including airfare, hotel accommodations and exclusive access to Draft events. One ultimate winner will be named NFL International Fan of the Year during the Draft, representing their club on a global stage.

Last season, England native Kymie Walker received a surprise call from Staley Da Bear, the club’s official mascot, announcing her as the team’s nominee for the NFL International Fan of the Year. A fan since 1986, Walker is known for uniting fellow supporters across the UK and attending nearly every team event abroad, including the Bears’ London games in 2011 and 2024. As part of the honor, she visited Halas Hall this spring and proudly represented the Bears at the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wis.

Walker joins James Gowers, the Bears’ inaugural International Fan of the Year nominee in 2023, in representing the team’s growing global fanbase.

To learn more about either program, visit NFL.com/FanOfTheYear