Although Ben Johnson’s departure from the Detroit Lions seemed to leave them empty-handed, he ignited a fiery rivalry in the NFC North. Some might think the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions have the most prominent rivalry in the North, but simply put, the Lions’ dominance has derailed this rivalry since Aaron Rodgers’ exit. This historic rivalry, the NFL’s oldest, with renewed intensity and drama.
The Lions and Bears first met in 1930, when the Lions were the Portsmouth Spartans, based in Portsmouth, Ohio. Since 1933, they’ve been divisional rivals, meeting twice annually except in 1987, when a players’ strike canceled the home game for the Lions. Separated by just 280 miles, Soldier Field and Ford Field anchor the Midwest’s two largest metropolitan areas, infusing this competition with geographic significance. As the NFL’s longest-running rivalry, the teams have faced off at least once every year since 1930, creating a disdained hate for years to come.
Over their last 117 matchups, the Bears and Lions are locked at 58-58-1, reflecting their fierce competitiveness. While the Bears boast a Super Bowl ring and multiple NFC championships, the Lions have surged recently, riding a two-game win streak and stronger playoff success. Detroit has claimed back-to-back division titles, while Chicago has logged just one since 2011, highlighting the Lions’ edge as Super Bowl contenders against a rebuilding Bears squad.
This rivalry thrives on unforgettable moments. In 2000, the Lions, leading 10-0, needed one win against a last-place Bears team to clinch a playoff spot. Shockingly, rookie kicker Paul Edinger’s 54-yard field goal sealed a Bears comeback, costing Detroit the game and triggering the hiring of Matt Millen, a move that would give the Lions eight years of pain and agony. The 2010 Calvin Johnson “no-catch” ruling, where an obvious touchdown was overturned, resulting in a Lions loss, further cemented Detroit’s reputation for heartbreaking officiating calls.
The rivalry’s intensity peaks in high scoring matches, like the 2007 game, where the teams combined for a record breaking 48 points in the fourth quarter. Trailing 13-3, the Lions erupted for 34 points, securing a 37-27 victory in one of the NFL’s most bizarre finishes. Not just in game matchups, but player movement fuels the fire; former Bears running back David Montgomery, now a Lion, has amassed 2,248 total yards and 25 touchdowns since leaving Chicago. The Bears have countered by signing former Lions like long snapper Scott Daly, guard Jonah Jackson, and most notably running back D’Andre Swift, a one-time Lions standout. Even family ties bind the teams; Bears linebacker Noah Sewell is the brother of Lions’ All-Pro offensive lineman Penei Sewell.
Recent games have been thrillers. In 2023, the Lions trailed 26-14 with three minutes left. Jared Goff connected with Jameson Williams for a deep touchdown, and after a quick Bears’ three-and-out, David Montgomery powered in the game winning score. Last year on Thanksgiving, things got dicey when the Lions blew a 23-7 lead. With Chicago’s late game mismanagement by coach Matt Eberflus, the Lions would go on to win and swept the Bears, cementing their divisional dominance.
The rivalry’s latest twist involves Ben Johnson, the Lions’ former offensive coordinator. His questionable playoff play-calling, allowing wide receiver Jameson Williams to pass the ball and going away from Jahmyr Gibbs and the run game, which averaged 10 yards per carry, was widely criticized. His shocking move to the Bears devastated Lions fans, elevating the rivalry’s stakes. This betrayal has transformed each matchup into a battle for bragging rights and redemption.
The Lions-Bears rivalry transcends football; it’s a clash of legacies, cities, and devoted fanbases. From historic venues to shared players, the proximity of Detroit and Chicago amplifies the weight of each matchup. Lions fans, fueled by decades of heartbreak and recent triumphs, while Bears supporters believe their time has come. As both teams gear up for their next battles, one in week two where the Lions will host the Bears and the second not until the very last game of the season, for weeks two and 18, it will and always will be FTB!
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