A look at some of the trash talk moments between players in the last 20 years of the rivalry
The Green Bay Packers are heading to The Windy City this weekend to take on the Chicago Bears in a historical rivalry that spans over a century. And like most seasons, it’s not without a little trash talk being tossed between the locker rooms. Just this week, Packers safety Xavier McKinney took some shots at Bears WR DJ Moore, which then got a response from the wide receiver. But before we get into this season’s beef, let’s look back at some of the trash talk that’s taken place between these two division foes over the years.
- January 2004 – Bears hire head coach Lovie Smith who says “The No. 1 goal is to beat Green Bay” in his opening press conference for the team. (Lovie Smith was 8-11 against the Packers)
- December 2010 – Lovie Smith refuses to rest starters against the Packers to try and keep them out of the playoffs, despite earning a playoff bye. They lost 10-3 and the Packers solidified their spot in the playoffs. (The Packers went on to beat the Bears in the NFC Championship Game before beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV).
- September 2012 – Bears QB Jay Cutler throws 4 interceptions against the Packers and afterward DB Charles Woodson said of the game: “We just need to be in position. Jay will throw us the ball.” (Jay Culter was 2-11 vs. the Packers and threw 23 INTs those games)
- December 2012 – Bears WR Brandon Marshall says he doesn’t like the Packers calling it “personal” and specifically referencing Woodson’s comments on Cutler. To which Packers WR Greg Jennings responded to Marshall’s comments, saying “Let him hate us, we hate them”.
- December 2012 – Packers TE Jermichal Finley jokes that the Bears might be better without LB Brian Urlacher saying “he’s playing a little slow out there”. Bears LB Lance Briggs responds by calling Finley “an idiot” while Urlacher takes a shot back by saying the Packers didn’t need Finley to win the 2010 Super Bowl (Finley was on IR). Finley attempted to backtrack by saying it wasn’t meant out of disrespect.
- September 2017 – Bears LB Danny Trevathan celebrates after making a controversial hit on Davante Adams that sent him to the hospital. Multiple Packers called out the hit and his reaction. Trevathan was suspended for 2 games. (Packers won 35-10)
- September 2019 – Packers DB Tramon Williams says “We wanted to make Mitch play quarterback” after their Week 1 match-up. Bears QB Mitch Trubisky threw the game-sealing interception to former Bears safety Adrian Amos in his first game after signing with the Packers. (Packers won 10-3)
- October 2021 – Packers QB Aaron Rodgers runs in a touchdown at Soldier Field and yells “I own you! All my f***ing life! I still own you!” at fans after putting on the belt. (Packers won 24-14)
- September 2022 – Packers CB Jaire Alexander jokes “Things could be a lot worse, I could be a Bears fan” ahead of their first match-up that season. (Packers won 27-10)
- February 2023 – Packers safety Adrian Amos tweets Bears fan saying he’s happy not to be part of the Bears anymore.
- September 2023 – Bears safety Jaquan Brisker shares his hatred of Green Bay in a press conference ahead of their Week 1 match-up. “People hate Green Bay. I hate Green Bay. So, I can’t wait. They didn’t get to see me last year; They gon’ get to see me this year, though.” (Packers won 38-20)
- September 2023 – Packers lineman David Bakhtiari flips the bird to Bears fans at Soldier Field seconds before a snap during their Week 1 game and posts it to Instagram after the game. He also waved and blew kisses to fans who were flipping him off after a Packers’ touchdown.
- September 2023 – Bears safety Jaquan Brisker downplays Packers QB Jordan Love’s ability after the Bears lost to the Packers saying Love is “nothing special”.
- January 2024 – Bears QB Justin Fields says “There’s not much to do in Green Bay besides watch football” ahead of their Week 18 game. (Packers won 17-9 to advance to the playoffs with their 10th win in a row over the Bears)
- January 2024 – Jaquan Brisker calls Packers WRs “fake tough” after the Bears were beaten by the Packers for the 10th time in a row. Packers players responded to Brisker’s comments.
- January 2024 – Aaron Rodgers, who was already gone from the Packers, jokingly questions if it even is a rivalry after the Packers got their 10th straight win over the Bears.
And that’s just the stuff I could remember from the last 20 years! Now let’s take a look at this season, which shockingly doesn’t include anything from Jaquan Brisker. (Sadly he won’t be on the field Sunday after he was put on IR this week)
- March 2024 – Bears DE Montez Sweat tweets that he’s developed a “real rivalry” with the Packers, tagging Packers Preston Smith and Keisean Nixon, both of whom responded to his tweet. (worth noting all of them are friends, so this was more than likely in good fun).
- May 2024 – Bears WR DJ Moore brushes off comments from Kay Adams about the NFC North’s secondary (specifically naming Xavier McKinney joining the Packers) with a very sarcastic “that’s nice” and “eh” when she asked his thoughts about it.
- July 2024 – Packers QB Jordan Love says his favorite team to play against is the Bears and says he wants to be the “new owner of the Bears”.
- November 2024 – Packers safety Xavier McKinney addresses DJ Moore’s comments from May saying “You’re just talking”. Moore responded to McKinney’s comments saying “We’ll see on Sunday what it all plays out to be” ahead of their Week 11 clash.
- November 2024 – Keisean Nixon is asked about Sweat’s tweet from March. He doubles down saying that he’s never lost to the Bears since he’s been with the Packers, so he doesn’t consider it a rivalry, adding Sweat is “gonna have to eat that tweet up”.
You got all that? I’m sure there were plenty that I missed, so feel free to share some more player trash talk moments in the comments.
Needless to say, the rivalry is always alive and well with players in Green Bay and Chicago. Some even after they’ve long left the team. LeRoy Butler was even coaching up Evan Williams on the intensity of the rivalry earlier this week when they had dinner.
Despite all the shots back and forth between the rivals, the Packers have gotten the last laugh as of late. They have won the last 10 head-to-head match-ups, which is the most either team has won in a row. The Packers will have the opportunity to break that record this weekend against a depleted and struggling Chicago team. The Packers are leading the series with a 107–95–6 record against the Bears in the 208 games they’ve played.
No matter what happens, we’re sure to get some great Packers-Bears trash-talking material after the game to add to the list!