Sean McVay couldn’t help but crack a smile when asked if he’s been on the phone with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur ahead of this Sunday’s Divisional Round clash against the Chicago Bears.
“What would you guess?” McVay said, grinning. “No, you know what - we watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine.”
It was classic McVay - part poker face, part playful jab, and all business underneath. But the moment carried a little extra weight when you consider who’s on the other side of the field this week.
The Bears aren’t just in the playoffs - they’re the team coaches like McVay are preparing for, not overlooking. That’s a shift.
And it’s a big one.
For years, Chicago was the team stuck in neutral - searching for answers, stability, and a quarterback. Now, they’ve got a home playoff game, a young star under center, and one of the NFL’s brightest offensive minds in Ben Johnson calling the shots. That’s not just progress - that’s a full-on transformation.
McVay and LaFleur go way back. They were part of that same rising-coach wave that reshaped the NFL’s offensive identity.
So when McVay gives a wink and a nod about sharing notes, there’s history behind it. But there’s also a bit of edge this week.
Because while McVay kept it light, he didn’t exactly look thrilled with how LaFleur’s Packers were handled by Ben Johnson’s Bears in the Wild Card round.
That game wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. And whether McVay admits it or not, he’s now gearing up for a chess match with a coach who just outmaneuvered one of his closest friends.
Still, all the attention, all the respect - it only matters if the Bears finish the job. Soldier Field is going to be rocking on Sunday. The city’s buzzing, the stakes are high, and a win punches Chicago’s ticket to the NFC Championship Game.
This is the part of the season where contenders separate themselves. The Bears have earned the spotlight - now it’s about proving they belong in it.
Because as fun as comeback wins and headline-grabbing performances are, January football is about one thing: surviving and advancing. And if the Bears can do that again this weekend, they won’t just be the talk of the league - they’ll be one win away from the Super Bowl.