Get ready for some serious rivalry action, folks.
When Ben Johnson took the reins as head coach of the Chicago Bears in January 2025, he made it clear he was staying in the NFC North for a reason. "I wanted to stay in this division.
I know this is the toughest division in football right now," he declared, acknowledging the competitive fire ignited by facing off against top-tier coaches like Dan Campbell and Kevin O’Connell. And he didn’t hold back on his feelings about Green Bay, adding with a grin, "I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year."
Fast forward to Johnson’s debut season, and he certainly walked the walk. The Bears clinched the NFC North title with a 12-5 record, their first since 2018, and took down the Packers twice-once in Week 16 and again in the NFC Wild Card round.
Johnson’s postgame antics, including a viral moment where he snubbed LaFleur’s handshake, set the tone for what’s quickly becoming a heated rivalry. His locker room exclamation, "[Expletive] the Packers!"
left no doubt about his stance. When pressed on it later, he simply stated, "I don't like that team."
At the 2026 NFL Combine, ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio caught up with Johnson, probing further into his animosity towards the Packers. Johnson didn’t mince words: "Who likes the Packers?
The Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other. I think it's as simple as that."
When asked about his relationship with LaFleur, Johnson was straightforward: "No. No.
Nope. We don't talk."
And when asked if he preferred it that way, Johnson confirmed, "I'm good with it."
On the flip side, LaFleur seemed puzzled by the tension. Speaking on Bussin' With The Boys in April 2025, he claimed, "I don't know Ben Johnson," and played down any notion of a feud, saying, "I respect him as a football coach."
But make no mistake, this rivalry is heating up. With the Bears and Packers meeting twice each season, fans can expect plenty of fireworks. Buckle up, because this is a matchup that’s only getting more intense.