Chicago Bears defensive end Austin Booker has received double punishment from the NFL following two roughing-the-passer penalties on Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love during the Bears’ 22-16 overtime victory last weekend. The second hit, a helmet-to-helmet collision, knocked Love out of the game with a concussion.
The Austin Booker Jordan Love Incident: What Happened?
Chicago defensive end Austin Booker (94) sacks and injures Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the second quarter of their game Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Love left the game and the Bears were penalized for the hit. © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In the first half quarter, Booker was flagged twice for roughing the passer on Love. The first penalty came when he drove Love into the ground after a pass. The more severe second hit occurred on a sack, with Booker making direct helmet-to-helmet contact as Love ducked his head. Love immediately went into the blue tent and later the locker room for evaluation. He was ruled out with a concussion at halftime.
Backup Malik Willis stepped in, nearly leading the Packers to victory, but the Bears rallied for the OT win on a DJ Moore touchdown.
Austin Booker Response and NFL Fines
Booker defended his play post-game: “I’m just playing football, making a tackle. He ducked his head and football plays happen… Injuries happen every day. Football is football.”
On December 24, he revealed the league fined him $5,000 for each penalty (total $10,000) and plans to appeal both, arguing Love lowering his head contributed to the second collision: “The second one could definitely go both ways.”
Booker accepted responsibility for the first: “I landed on him, I should have braced myself more.” Despite the flags, some analysts (including SI.com) argued the second hit wasn’t “dirty,” citing momentum and Love’s movement.
Jordan Love Injury Update
Green Bay Packers quarterback Love (10) is injured after being sacked during the second quarter of their game Saturday, December 20, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Love left the game and the Chicago Bears were penalized for the hit.
Love remains in concussion protocol this week, with his status uncertain for upcoming games. He was seen throwing lightly in practice, but no timeline for return has been confirmed.
References
Heavy.com: “Bears DE Austin Booker Gets Double NFL Punishment After Injuring Jordan Love” (Updated December 24, 2025)
NFL.com/ESPN: Love concussion and game reports
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