When the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears meet next season, don’t be surprised if the postgame handshake between the two head coaches is a quick one.
Ben Johnson, the Bears’ new head coach, took a jab at Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur during his introductory press conference Wednesday.
“I’m gonna be quite frank with you,” Johnson said. “I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.”
Johnson was the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator the last three years and spent the past six years with the organization. LaFleur became Green Bay’s head coach in 2019, the same year Johnson started in Detroit.
LaFleur and the Packers went 5-1 against Detroit from 2019-2021. In the last three years, though, the Lions went 5-1 against Green Bay, including season sweeps in both 2022 and 2024.
Johnson’s new team — Chicago — hasn’t had nearly as much success against Green Bay in recent years. The Packers won 11 straight games against Chicago, the most in the 104-year history of the rivalry, before the Bears posted a 24-22 win in Week 18.
LaFleur is now 11-1 against Chicago. And since the start of the 1992 season, the Packers are 51-16 against the Bears (.762) giving them a 109-96-6 edge in the NFL’s oldest rivalry.
The Bears are hoping Johnson helps them change their luck against Green Bay. Meanwhile, LaFleur should be extra motivated to face Johnson and Chicago next season.