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As the game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers concluded on Saturday, the war of words continued over the following days.
The Bears pulled off a remarkable 31-27 victory in the NFC Wild Card round, beating their bitter rivals, and made their disdain for the Packers known. In the locker room after the game, head coach Ben Johnson made no secret of his feelings toward the Packers.
“Dude, f— the Packers! F— them! I fucking hate these guys!” Johnson roared into a cheering Bears locker room.
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(Left) Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) plays against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Glendale, Arizona on October 19, 2025. (Right) Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson watches the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the game at Levi’s Stadium. Santa Clara, California, December 28, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images; Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Packers star safety Xavier McKinney called Johnson a troll for his comments.
“He’s a troll,” McKinney said. “So it’s cool. I’m just not a troll. So I don’t know, it’s just him. But he’s a hell of a coach, though.”
Johnson doubled down on his postgame remarks Monday.
“There is a rivalry between these two teams,” Johnson said. “Something I fully recognize and am a part of. I just don’t like this team.”
THE SITUATION OF THE PACKERS HEAD COACHES IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER THE LOSS OF THE PLAYOFFS
Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears watches the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on January 4, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Johnson said he even talked about it with team owner George McCaskey, and the coach said the owner was on the same page.
“It’s a rivalry and, city of Chicago, Green Bay, it’s got to be a rivalry,” Johnson said.
The 39-year-old coach has made his distaste for the Packers known since his opening press conference as head coach of the Bears in January 2025. Johnson talked about the quality of the NFC North before spontaneously taking a shot at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
“And to be honest with you, I kind of liked beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” Johnson said with a smile.
The coaches’ interactions after the team’s three matchups this season have been brief. After the Packers’ victory, in the team’s first meeting of the regular season, the two men’s handshake lasted only a second before they met.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reacts during the first half of an NFL playoff football game against the Chicago Bears. Chicago, Illinois, Saturday January 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
After the Bears’ improbable return to the regular season, the handshake lasted a little longer, with both coaches patting each other’s arm before going their separate ways.
The handshake after the Wild Card match was even shorter than the first, as Johnson ran up to LaFleur and shook his hand before running off.
The Bears’ next game is against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET, when Johnson will face another LaFleur. Mike LaFleur, brother of the Packers head coach, is the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
