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While the game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers ended on Saturday, the war of words has continued in the days since.
The Bears posted a remarkable 31-27 victory in the NFC wild card round, defeating their bitter rivals, and have made their disdain for the Packers well known. In the locker room after the game, head coach Ben Johnson made no secret of his feelings toward the Packers.
“Man, fuck the Packers! So fucked! I hate those guys!” Johnson roared in a jubilant 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, 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, on 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 okay. I’m just not a troll. So I don’t know, it’s just him. But he’s a great coach.”
Johnson doubled down on his postgame comments on Monday.
“There’s a rivalry between these two teams,” Johnson said. “Something I fully recognize and am a part of. I just don’t like that team.”
PACKERS HEAD COACH’S SITUATION IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER PLAYOFF LOSS
Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears watches in 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 to team owner George McCaskey about it, and the coach said the owner is on the same page.
“This is a rivalry and, city of Chicago, Green Bay, it has to be a rivalry,” Johnson said.
The 39-year-old coach has made his distaste for the Packers known since his inaugural press conference as Bears head coach in January 2025. Johnson talked about how good the NFC North is before spontaneously taking a shot at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
“And to be honest, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” Johnson said with a smile.
The coaches’ interactions after the team’s three meetings this season have been brief. After the Packers’ victory, in the team’s first meeting of the regular season, the two’s handshake barely lasted a second before they moved forward.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reacts during the first half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Chicago Bears. Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
After the Bears’ unlikely comeback in the regular season, the handshake lasted a little longer, as both coaches patted each other on the arm before going their separate ways.
The handshake after the wild card game 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 pm ET, when Johnson will have to face another LaFleur. Mike LaFleur, brother of the Packers head coach, is the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
