Feb. 7, 2026, 7:01 a.m. CT
The Chicago Bears, under new head coach Ben Johnson, won the NFC North and a playoff game in his first season.Chicago reversed its long-standing losing trend against the Green Bay Packers, winning two of three matchups in 2025.Johnson has reignited the rivalry with comments and actions directed at the Packers and their coach, Matt LaFleur.Former Bears running back Matt Forte supported Johnson’s approach, stating the Packers should “do something about it” if they have a problem.
The Chicago Bears found plenty of success during Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach, where they went 11-6, won the NFC North title and also won a playoff game for the first time in 15 years. But one of the biggest things Chicago accomplished was flipping the rivalry with the Green Bay Packers.
For the last couple of decades, the Packers have completely dominated the Bears, winning 19 of 22 games from 2014-2024. So when Johnson said, in his introductory press conference, that he enjoyed beating Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur twice a year, it was significant. But he didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk.
The Bears went 2-1 against the Packers in 2025, including a thrilling wild-card playoff win at Soldier Field that slayed the demons of rivalry’s past. And, for the first time in a long time, it feels like the tide has turned in the rivalry with Chicago making things competitive.
Johnson has brought a fire back to the rivalry with his “feud” with LaFleur, including a drive-by postgame handshake and igniting a “F— the Packers” chant in the postgame locker room. It didn’t sit well with Green Bay fans, and former Bears running back Matt Forte just ended them with his take on the reignited rivalry.
“F them,” Forte told Hoge and Jahns at the Super Bowl. “Forget them. The fact that they were being all butt hurt about it is hilarious to me. For years ya’ll were on the winning side. Now, the tide has returned. If you got a problem with it, do something about it.
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“You come to Soldier Field and you’re talking about you own the Bears. Whatever, talk your trash. You backed it up, congratulations. The Bears are backing it up, and they kicked your butt so, Ben, talk your trash. It’s gotta be like that.”
For decades, the Bears have been the punching bag for the Packers and their fans. But now, Chicago has made this a rivalry again and the tide is turning in their direction. And judging by the reactions of Green Bay fans, they know it, too.
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