The Chicago Bears hatred for the Green Bay Packers has spanned many generations and now the new generation of players are getting involved.
Recent history hasn’t been kind to the Bears but after an overhauled offseason, good things appear to be on the horizon for the city of Chicago.
The Bears are coming hot off the 2024 NFL Draft after selecting quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze in the first round. Odunze has already caught on quick to the history of the Bears, including the long standing rivalry between two of the oldest franchises competing in the NFC North.
“First day hating the Packers, I already can’t stand them,” Odunze said during the weekend after being drafted. “Every time I see green, I nearly puke.”
It seems like the hatred toward either the Packers or Bears is a common piece of homework for all new players joining one of the two sides. It's fantastic to see the Bears' newest member of the offense get onboard with the rivalry, although it might take some more convincing to get Williams to change his opinion on the division rival.
Williams, as we all know by now, grew up as a devout Packers' fan and grew up idolizing former Packers' legend Aaron Rodgers, who dominated the Bears for years. Despite his former loyalties, Williams is "excited" to face the Packers for the first time.
"I'm excited to get out there and go against the Packers and the Cheeseheads," Williams said while appearing on the Parkins & Spiegel Show after being drafted.
The Packers are set to be a formidable divisional opponent heading into Year 2 with Jordan Love at quarterback who will be looking to retake the NFC North crown held by the Detroit Lions. The Bears are looking to have the same lofty goals themselves, but beating the Packers during the 2024 season comes first.
"Of course every year the goal is to go get a Super Bowl, and we want to win the division of course," Bears' defensive end Montez Sweat said on the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long. "I'm not losing to Green Bay this year. We done created a real rivalry over there... We're going to get out there."
While the rivalry has been standing for generations, it hasn’t seemed like much of a competitive one for the Bears over the past few seasons. The last time the Bears defeated the Packers was in 2018 and the last time the Bears swept the Packers in a season was in 2007.
It certainly seems like changing the history of the NFL's oldest rivalry is at the front of the mind for many of the new stars in Chicago. Let's see if they can do it or not.
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