Bears coach Ben Johnson reignites bitter rivalry, doubling down on his fervent dislike for the Packers at the NFL Combine.
Just in case you thought there was any love lost between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, head coach Ben Johnson set the record straight at the NFL Combine.
It all started at Johnson's introductory press conference, where he publicly stated that he didn't like the Packers and would enjoy beating them twice a year, as he did with the Detroit Lions as offensive coordinator.
Later into the 2025 season, Johnson was seen chanting "[expletive] the Packers" and was asked about those comments. He was still firm in his hatred for the Packers.
Fans got a close look at how much Johnson didn't like Green Bay after the comeback win over them in the postseason.
That dislike of the Packers is still strong for Johnson. He was asked about it in a recent interview with Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio at the NFL Combine. Johnson believed with his whole heart that the Bears and Packers shouldn't ever like each other.
"Who likes the Packers?" Johnson said. "Yeah, I mean, the Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other. I think it's as simple as that. I think that's gonna make this rivalry, this game, something that people are gonna watch here going forward."
Florio even asked if Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has tried to build a relationship with Johnson, and the Bears HC said they don't speak to each other, and that's how he likes it.
"No, no, we don't talk," Johnson said. "I'm good with it."
As if there was any doubt in the minds of Bears fans about how their HC feels about their hated rival, it sounds like we are going to have even more heated matchups between the Packers and Bears going forward, at least as long as Johnson is in charge.
What Johnson predicted came true, even if it didn't happen how he probably imagined it. Johnson forecasted that the Bears would beat the Packers twice a year, but needed an extra matchup to do so.
The Packers took the first game 28-21, but then the Bears had a historic comeback in Week 16. Chicago was down 16-6 late in the fourth quarter, but rallied to force overtime after a field goal from Cairo Santos and a touchdown catch from undrafted rookie Jahdae Walker.
D.J. Moore caught the game-winning touchdown to give the Bears the 22-16 win.
The emotional rollercoaster was even worse for Bears fans in the postseason. The Bears were down 21-3 in the second half and came back to win 31-27, eliminating the Packers from the playoffs.
This kind of energy is something Bears fans love to see from their head coach, and it will make for even more exciting rivalry games against the Packers in 2026 and beyond.