Bears Coach Ben Johnson Stokes Rivalry with Packers at NFL Combine

Johnson continues to take shots at Green Bay, says he and LaFleur have no relationship.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 1:20pm

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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson did not hold back when asked about the team's rivalry with the Green Bay Packers at the NFL Scouting Combine. Johnson fired shots at the Packers, saying "Who likes the Packers?" and that there is no relationship between him and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. The rivalry between the two teams and coaches has intensified over the past season, with Johnson taking early jabs at LaFleur and the Packers, and the teams splitting their three meetings, including a Bears playoff win.

Why it matters

The Bears-Packers rivalry is one of the most storied in the NFL, and the animosity between the two head coaches has only added to the drama. Johnson's continued public jabs at the Packers and LaFleur will likely only further inflame the rivalry and make their matchups must-see TV for fans.

The details

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Johnson was asked about the Bears-Packers rivalry and immediately took shots at Green Bay, saying "Who likes the Packers?" He also revealed that he and Packers coach Matt LaFleur do not have any relationship or communication between them. This rivalry has been building since Johnson took the Bears job, when he took early shots at LaFleur and the Packers in his introductory press conference. The intensity continued to rise throughout the regular season and playoffs, where the teams split their three meetings, including a Bears win in the NFC wild-card round.

  • The Bears and Packers split their three meetings in the 2025 season.
  • The Bears defeated the Packers in the NFC wild-card playoffs in January 2026.

The players

Ben Johnson

The head coach of the Chicago Bears, who has been stoking the rivalry with the Green Bay Packers since taking the job.

Matt LaFleur

The head coach of the Green Bay Packers, who has been on the other end of Johnson's rivalry-fueling comments.

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What they’re saying

“Who likes the Packers? The Bears and the Packers, they should not like each other, I think it's as simple as that. That's going to make this rivalry, this game, something that people are going to watch going forward.”

— Ben Johnson, Head Coach, Chicago Bears (Pro Football Talk)

“I haven't heard from [Matt LaFleur], we don't speak at all, and there's no relationship between the two head coaches whatsoever.”

— Ben Johnson, Head Coach, Chicago Bears (Pro Football Talk)

What’s next

The Bears and Packers are scheduled to meet twice in the 2026 regular season, with their first matchup coming in Week 3 at Lambeau Field.

The takeaway

The rivalry between the Bears and Packers, and their head coaches Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur, continues to be one of the most compelling storylines in the NFL. Johnson's willingness to publicly stoke the flames of this rivalry will only add to the intensity and drama when these two teams meet on the field.