It started when Tarzan punched Cub in 1921.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Staleys met at Wrigley Field on Nov. 27, 1921. Chicago, which would change its name to the Bears the following season, won 20-0, but the game took a turn when Staleys guard John Lachlan “Tarzan” Taylor took a swing at Packers guard Howard “Cub” Buck, which resulted in a broken nose.
From there, George Halas and Curly Lambeau were the combatants in the early stages of the NFL’s oldest rivalry, and Halas and Vince Lombardi kept that tradition going. Ben Johnson’s beef with Matt LaFleur and Caleb Williams’ competence at quarterback make the rivalry alive and well today.
Chicago fans love to chant “Green Bay sucks!.” Green Bay fans love to sing “The Bears Still Suck.” Yeah, they hate each other — and both fan-bases have coaches and players that evoke anger from the past to the present. Here is a list of the 10 players and coaches who have inflamed the rivalry over the years ever since:
MORE: Full history of the Bears vs. Packers rivalry
10. Randall Cobb, Packers (2011-18, 2021-22)
“Randall F—ing Cobb!” Cobb is this rivalry’s version of “Bucky F—ing Dent.” The Packers receiver burned the Bears with a 48-yard TD catch on fourth-and-8 at Soldier Field for a 33-28 victory on Dec. 29, 2013 that gave the Packers the NFC North title. Cobb struck again in Week 1 in 2018 with a 75-yard TD catch that capped a 20-point second-half comeback.
9. Danny Trevathan, Bears (2017-21)
Trevethan knocked out Green Bay receiver Davante Adams on a brutal hit in a Thursday Night Football game against the Packers on Sept. 29, 2017. The Packers won 35-14. Trevathan, who was suspended for two games as a result of the hit, ensured his inglorious place with Packers’ fans as a result of the hit.
8. Dick Butkus, LB, Bears (1965-73)
Butkus is one of the NFL’s most-legendary players, and he never hid his dislike for the Packers. Butkus was notorious for savage hits and a brutal style on the field — and he trolled Green Bay a times on social media up until his death in 2023. Butkus’ nephew Luke is currently the Packers’ offensive line coach. Butkus and Green Bay linebacker Ray Nitschke were fierce rivals at the time, and they leaned into that in commercials later.
7. Forrest Gregg, Packers tackle, coach (1956-70, 1984-87)
Gregg was a Hall of Fame offensive tackle for Vince Lombardi’s championship teams in the 1960s, but he secured his place in Bears’ infamy as the Packers’ coach from 1984-87. That portion of rivalry was marred with a series of brutal games, including that time cornerback Mark Lee was ejected after throwing running back Walter Payton over the Chicago bench. Yes, we’ll get to the other incident soon. Gregg was 1-7 against Chicago as a coach.
6. Caleb Williams, Bears QB (2024-present)
Unlike past Bears quarterbacks in the 21st century, Williams — the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — is a real threat to the Packers. He’s 3-2 as a starter in the rivalry including playoffs – but double-barrel comeback victories against Green Bay in Week 14 and the NFC Wild Card showed how real that threat is. Williams secured his place when he wore a “cheese grater” on the Amazon Prime telecast afterward.
5. Brett Favre, Packers QB (1992-2007)
Williams still has a long way to go to reach the Favre level. “The Gunslinger” had a 22-10 record against the Bears and he represented a shift in the rivalry, which Chicago dominated in the 1980s. The Halloween matchup on Monday Night Football in 1994 — when Favre dove into the end zone with a 36-yard score — marked the beginning of that dominance.
4. Mike Ditka, Bears tight end, coach (1961-66, 1982-91)
When the former Bears coach and player put on a Packers’ sweatshirt for a McDonald’s commercial in 2015, Green Bay promptly went on a three-game losing streak. Ditka had a larger-than-life personality – and he had a 15-5 record against the Packers as a head coach during a one-sided portion of the rivalry where he became a cult icon in Chicago. He nearly had altercations with Gregg on the field. Chicago fans still dress up like Ditka today … with a Bears’ sweatshirt, of course. Do Green Bay fans hate Ditka more than our next coach?
3. Ben Johnson, Bears coach (2025-present)
Is this an over-reaction? Johnson – who was the offensive coordinator in Detroit before taking the Chicago job – has breathed new life into the rivalry with his open disdain for the Packers. He took shots at Green coach Matt LaFleur. The locker-room celebration after the NFC Wild Card victory when he screamed, “F— the Packers!” went viral, and Johnson had no intention of apologizing for it afterward. Johnson could represent a shift in the rivalry.
2. Charles Martin, Packers DE (1984-87)
Chicago fans who grew up in the 1980s will put him No. 1. Martin’s hit on Jim McMahon is one of the dirtiest plays in NFL history. On Nov. 23, 1986, Martin slammed McMahon to the Soldier Field turf, which resulted in a season-ending shoulder injury for the Bears’ quarterback. Martin had scribbled the names of Chicago players on a towel and his belt – and the incident resulted in a two-game suspension. Martin passed away in 2005.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers QB (2005-22)
Rodgers is the ultimate “boogeyman” for Chicago fans. He had a 25-5 record against the Bears, which includes the 21-14 victory in the 2010 NFC championship game. Rodgers not only haunted Chicago — he let them know it. After a game-sealing TD run in a 24-14 victory on Oct. 17, 2021 at Soldier Field, Rodgers screamed, “I still own you!” No player dominated this rivalry to that extent.
MORE: Aaron Rodgers at the NFL’s 25 most hated quarterbacks
Who missed the cut?
Vince Lombardi, Packers coach (1959-67). He is part of the rivalry lore, but the Bears aren’t changing the name if they win the Lombardi Trophy this year. He represents a classic era of this rivalry in the matchups with Halas.
Brian Urlacher, Bears linebacker (2000-12). Urlacher — an eight-time Pro Bowl selection — was the heart of Chicago’s defense with coach Lovie Smith, who had an 8-11 record against the Packers.
Steve McMichael, Bears defensive tackle (1981-93). “Mongo” was one of the outspoken players on the ‘85 Bears Super Bowl team, but he also played for Green Bay in 1994.
Sterling Sharpe, Packers receiver (1988-94). Did Packers quarterback Don Majkowski cross the line of scrimmage before hitting Sharpe with a TD pass in the “Replay Game” on Nov. 5, 1989?
Clay Matthews, Packers linebacker (2009-18). Matthews trolled Bears fans at the 2025 NFL Draft with a fake message from President Trump.
Do Packers fans hate Jim McMahon?
McMahon, who took that nasty hit from Martin, led the Bears to a 46-10 victory against New England in Super Bowl XX. He was 8-1 as a starter for Chicago against the Packers from 1982-88.
He later signed with the Packers and was a backup quarterback from 1995-96 behind Favre. McMahon was on the roster when Green Bay beat New England 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI. That gives him a unique place in the Bears-Packers rivalry.
Packers-Bears hatred in popular culture
Bill Swerski’s Superfans brought “Da Bears!” to popular culture on “Saturday Night Live.” How would they interact with Red Forman from “That ’70s Show?”
Clark Griswold or Frank Lambert? Lil Wayne or Vince Vaughn? The regional culture clash between the Bears and Packers is timeless – and it will be on display Sunday.
