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ESPN star Dick Vitale wasn’t happy with Ben Johnson on Sunday after the Chicago Bears coach’s explicit reaction to a playoff win over the Green Bay Packers went viral.
The cameras were on and the mic was hot as Johnson rallied his team in the locker room after a 31-27 comeback victory. He was heard saying, “F— the Packers! F— them! I fucking hate those guys.”
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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stands on the sideline against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
Vitale, the legendary college basketball commentator, seemed dismayed.
“Total CLASSLESS attitude in @ChicagoBears coach BEN JOHNSON’s fabulous comeback victory to beat the @packers. The main theme should have been the courageous comeback and not the childish comments of the F__ Packers,” Vitale wrote on X.
The rivalry between the Bears and Packers is certainly reignited. Johnson added fuel to the fire when he first joined the Bears. He was then asked why he chose Chicago. He said he “rather enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Dick Vitale is in attendance at Coleman Coliseum for the college basketball game between Alabama and Kentucky on February 22, 2025. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News)
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The message sparked a few frosty handshakes during the season, including one after the playoff game. Chicago went 1-1 against Green Bay in the regular season and beat them when it mattered most.
The first-year head coach praised his players for their performance, coming off two losses and a 21-3 halftime lead. Johnson said his team was “built for pressure.”
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson stands on the sideline against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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The Bears will face the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
