Ben Johnson at Combine: “Who Likes the Packers?”
It’s February.
But Bears–Packers still feels like December.
At the 2026 NFL Combine, new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson kept the rivalry flames burning when asked about his ongoing tension with Green Bay.
His response?
“Who likes the Packers?”
Delivered with a smile — but not entirely joking.
🏈 Johnson Backing It Up
This isn’t empty trash talk.
In his first season as Bears head coach, Johnson:
- Won the NFC North
- Secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC
- Beat the Packers twice
- Eliminated Green Bay in the playoffs
Most notably, Chicago erased an 18-point halftime deficit in the wild-card round to stun Matt LaFleur’s team 31-27.
It was the second double-digit comeback over Green Bay in less than a month.
For a rivalry that had tilted heavily toward the Packers for years, that was a statement.
❄️ The LaFleur Dynamic
Johnson’s icy relationship with Packers coach Matt LaFleur has become part of the storyline.
Postgame handshakes?
Frosty.
Communication?
Nonexistent.
At the Combine, Johnson didn’t sugarcoat it.
“The Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other. I think it’s as simple as that.”
And when asked if he and LaFleur talk?
“No, we don’t talk. I’m good with it.”
That’s rivalry football.
🎭 Strategy or Personality?
Is Johnson leaning into the role of Bears villain-in-chief?
Maybe.
But this also aligns with how he introduced himself when hired — saying he didn’t want to leave the NFC North because he enjoyed beating LaFleur twice a year.
At the time, that raised eyebrows.
Now it looks prophetic.
🔥 Why This Matters
Rivalries drive the NFL.
The Bears–Packers feud had cooled competitively in recent years.
Johnson just reheated it.
- Division title implications
- Playoff drama
- Coaching tension
- National spotlight
That’s good for Chicago.
That’s good for Green Bay.
And it’s great for the league.
👀 What’s Next?
The Packers will circle those matchups in 2026.
LaFleur doesn’t strike as someone who forgets.
And if Chicago keeps winning?
Johnson’s comments won’t feel like trolling.
They’ll feel like truth.
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