Is it really a rivalry when one team has won 20 of the last 23 meetings dating back to 2013?
In the case of the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, it will always be a bitter feud, regardless of record. The clash between the two teams hasn’t lost much shine despite Green Bay’s dominance, and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is adding fuel to the fire.
The Bears are going through their annual ritual of claiming they dominated the offseason and trying to convince everyone this year will finally be different. Unlike past productions of this sad little play, where almost everyone would roll their eyes, there’s legitimate speculation about the potential of Williams under center with Ben Johnson taking over as head coach.
Over the weekend in the suburbs of Chicago, Williams attended Summer Smash. When the crowd started chanting, “(Expletive) Green Bay,” Williams wore a smile that warmed the hearts of Chicagoans and chimed in with the crowd.
Before that, Williams was out east at Fanatics Fest.
When Chicago’s quarterback was asked about having any not-so-great experiences with other fans, he singled out Green Bay.
I mean, they suck. After the game, after we won at Lambeau — 1-0 at Lambeau — we tried to do the Lambeau Leap, tried to jump into the crowd where our fans were. (Packers fans) just started throwing everything at you, push you off. The Lambeau Leap, it’s a real leap. It’s not a little baby jump, you actually have to high jump, basically. And they’re pushing you, pushing your face.
Forgive Green Bay fans for not rolling out the red carpet and welcoming you for a Lambeau Leap, Caleb. Forgive them for “pushing your face” while you attempt a stunt comparable to Michigan planting its flag at midfield against Ohio State.
How’d that turn out?
Aside from the lunacy of his statement and his bewilderment that Packers fans wouldn’t be thrilled seeing the Bears do a Lambeau Leap, Williams is great for the rivalry.
Usually, newly hired Bears coaches bleat about their plans to beat the Packers. Chicago players occasionally jump in, often venting frustrations about Green Bay pantsing them again. However, Williams is really going all in.
His head coach isn’t too far behind him.
When the Bears hired Lovie Smith in 2004, he said at his opening press conference that his top priority was to beat the Packers. Many coaches have come and gone in Chicago since Lovie, and plenty of Packers references and rah-rah statements have fallen on deaf ears.
When the Bears hired Johnson in January, he took a different approach, saying he enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.
Johnson came over from Detroit to take the reins in Chicago. In the past couple of years with the Lions, he had plenty of success as an offensive coordinator against the Packers. Unlike previous Bears coaches, Johnson is speaking from experience.
If you think Johnson’s words didn’t mean much, they sure got the attention of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who commented earlier this summer on Bussin’ With the Boys.
I don’t know Ben Johnson. Do I have beef? I don’t know Ben Johnson. I respect him as a football coach, he did a nice job (with the Lions). … I thought it was interesting. The press conference was interesting, but I don’t have beef with him. … I don’t get all into that stuff.
To be honest, coach, it sounds like beef — and it’s good for what has been a one-sided rivalry on the field.
Williams saying Packers fans suck and joining in on chants about Green Bay injects new life into the conflict. Packers fans will be riled up, and everyone will be anticipating the two games this year between Chicago and Green Bay even more, which will be played three weeks apart this year.
Beating the Packers in Lambeau Field helped Williams generate some heat in an up-and-down rookie season. It doesn’t matter that it came against a Green Bay team that played a lot of backups for most of the game. It doesn’t matter that it took a last-second field goal to seal the deal. If not for the Packers blocking a field goal in Chicago earlier in the season, Green Bay would’ve been 0-2 against the Bears in 2024.
That win in January allowed Williams to say he’s 1-0 at Lambeau Field and helped cushion what was otherwise a disastrous season in Chicago. That one win in Week 18 helped salvage some hope for the Bears.
Williams is taking a different approach to the Packers-Bears rivalry than past Chicago quarterbacks. He’s speaking confidently, loudly, and with no regard for the viral clips that will emerge if he lays an egg against the Packers this year.
Be angry if you want. Clown him back if you so choose. But also accept the fact that it’s really good for the storied Packers-Bears rivalry.