Game of Words After Bears’ Victory
The recent matchup between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers concluded with the Bears taking a thrilling 31-27 victory in the NFC Wild Card Round. But that win only fueled days of verbal sparring between the two teams.
In the aftermath, Bears head coach Ben Johnson was candid about his feelings toward the Packers. In a moment of celebration with his team, he exclaimed, “Hey, it’s the Packers! It’s them! I hate them!” revealing an intense rivalry.
Packers safety Xavier McKinney didn’t shy away from responding, calling Johnson a “troll.” He acknowledged, “That’s cool. I’m not just a troll. So I don’t know, it’s just him. But he’s a hell of a coach.”
On Monday, Johnson reaffirmed his earlier comments, emphasizing the bitterness that characterizes this rivalry. “I’m fully aware of it and I’m a part of it. I just don’t like that team,” he stated.
Johnson later had a conversation with team owner George McCaskey, and he reported that they shared the same views on the rivalry’s importance. “It needs to be a rivalry,” he reiterated, highlighting the connection between Chicago and Green Bay.
Since becoming the Bears’ coach, Johnson has expressed his adversarial sentiments toward the Packers. In his inaugural press conference last January, he remarked on the competitive landscape of the NFC North before turning his attention to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, saying, “Honestly, it was kind of fun to beat Matt LaFleur twice a year,” with a smile.
Interestingly, the interactions between Johnson and LaFleur have been brief and somewhat awkward. Following a previous victory by the Packers, their handshake was notably quick, lasting less than a second.
In a more recent encounter, after the wild card game, Johnson dashed over for a quick handshake before swiftly moving on. The ongoing tension seems to add another layer to the rivalry.
The Bears now look forward to their next challenge against the Los Angeles Rams, where Johnson will face Mike LaFleur, Matt’s younger brother, as the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
