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Chicago Bears get last laugh after Clay Matthews call out 2 Chicago Bears Cairo Santos kicks game-winning field goal vs Packers – Credit: Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Packers legend Clay Matthews explains Chicago Bears draft roast

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Dan Fappiano | Last updated May 14, 2025 9:00 PM ET

With the 2025 NFL Draft taking place in Green Bay, Chicago Bears fans knew their team was going to get booed whenever they were on the clock. However, Packers legend Clay Matthews decided to drive the knife in further to start off the draft.

At the podium, in the middle of the stage and in front of the world, Matthews began his speech. He ended it by popping the pro-Packers crowd by saying, ‘The Bears still suck.’ Bears fan Seth Rollins made sure to clap back at Matthews, but the Chicago roast took the NFL world by storm and went viral.

Now, Matthews has explained exactly how his Bears diss came to be. Before he took the stage, the All-Pro linebacker was trying to make sure he wouldn’t be caught by commissioner Roger Goodell, via Bussin with the Boys.

“I didn’t tell anybody, because I knew the NFL wasn’t going to approve it. I got this envelope that I’m holding just shaking. The opportunity kind of just opened itself, and it went over well.”

“Then I went backstage and I was like, I’ve got to face the wrath of Goodell,” Matthews continued. “They were super cool backstage. I kind of half heartedly apologized while laughing. Roger was like, ‘I didn’t want to laugh when I was out there.’ I didn’t want it to seem like he knew what was happening.”

The story behind the A+ prank by @ClayMatthews52 during the NFL draft

“I didn’t tell anyone because I knew the NFL wouldn’t approve it”

My man had an entire strategy mapped out before hitting the podium pic.twitter.com/1NJ7ExHnWH

— Will Compton (@_willcompton) May 13, 2025

Clay Matthews drums up Chicago Bears-Packers beef

As long as the Bears and Packers are NFL rivals, they will remain bitter rivals. However, the rivalry has felt much more lopsided in Green Bay’s favor recently. But between Matthews’ message and the hype Ben Johnson has brought with him, it feels like the matchup could soon become heated once more.

Chicago technically has the last laugh in their longstanding battle. The Bears came away with a 24-22 victory in Week 17. However, the Packers had already clinched their playoff spot and were resting many of their starters. The win broke a 10-game Chicago losing streak and only moved the team’s record to 5-12.

Prior to that game, the Packers had won the two team’s previous 11 matchups. Furthermore, Green Bay has been to the playoffs every year since 2019 outside of 2022. Chicago hasn’t made the playoffs since 2020 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2010.

The Bears are expecting a much different outcome when they take on the Packers in 2025. Johnson hasn’t been shy in calling out Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur. He’ll have an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is at least twice in his debut head coaching season.

While he will be evaluated for the full 17-game slate, how the Bears perform against the Packers with Johnson will be under a microscope. Matt Eberflus went 0-5 against Green Bay under his tenure. Johnson coming out and beating the Packers in his first season would immediately provide his worth in Chicago.

Matthews might’ve had all of Green Bay rocking when he dissed the Bears. But if Chicago climbs back to the top of the NFC North, Johnson and company will get the last laugh.