You never truly gauge an organization's resilience until their dominance is challenged. For over three decades, the Green Bay Packers have been the kings of the NFC North, with two Super Bowl wins and a consistent run of Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
But recent years have seen a shift. The Detroit Lions dethroned them in the division in 2023 and 2024, marking the beginning of a new era.
The Packers have always taken pride in their dominance over the Chicago Bears. From 2008 to 2023, they lost just five games to their rivals.
However, the tide began to turn when Caleb Williams led the Bears to a stunning victory at Lambeau Field in the 2024 season finale. Though many dismissed it as a fluke, the Bears proved it was no accident by defeating the Packers again at Soldier Field and pulling off a dramatic comeback in the wild-card playoffs, erasing a 21-3 deficit.
This series of events has left the Packers reeling, particularly with Williams' post-game actions serving as a haunting reminder.
Now, the Packers are taking action this offseason. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Green Bay is cracking down on season ticket holders who resell their tickets on the secondary market.
The team has warned that those caught will have their tickets revoked and given to the next person on the waiting list. The official stance is to preserve the gameday experience for Packer fans, but Florio suggests it’s an attempt to keep rival fans out of Lambeau Field.
“Season Ticket Holders who repeatedly resell their season tickets, whether on the secondary market or through ticket brokers (directly or indirectly), may have their renewal ability impacted without further warning.”
This kind of policy might seem like a sign of vulnerability. Chicago fans have seen similar tactics before.
During the Blackhawks' dynasty in the 2010s, the Nashville Predators tried to keep Chicago fans out with ticket restrictions. It didn’t stop the Blackhawks from eliminating them in the playoffs and winning another Stanley Cup.
The focus on ticket policies rather than team-building rarely signals a champion's mindset.
Green Bay is acutely aware of the missed opportunity last season. Injuries took a toll, and a crucial year in the Micah Parsons era slipped away.
With no first-round picks for the next two years and Parsons recovering from a torn ACL, the Packers insist they remain the NFC North's elite despite not winning the division since Aaron Rodgers' departure. The mystique of their glory years from 1995 to 2020 is fading, and their rivals-Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota-sense their vulnerability.
The trade for Parsons felt like a power move to reclaim control. Now, they’re trying to reinforce that by limiting opposing fans.
It's a bit ironic, considering how well Packers fans travel. It seems they’re eager to rewrite the narrative after last season's embarrassment, but keeping rival fans out won’t necessarily improve their on-field performance.