Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers
The oldest rivalry in the NFL, forged in ice and blood on the gridiron.
The Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers rivalry stands as the oldest continuous matchup in National Football League history, pitting two of the league's most storied franchises against one another since 1921. As the primary rivals within the NFC North (formerly the **NFC Central** and Western Conference), these teams share a deep-seated animosity rooted in nearly a century of competition for divisional supremacy.
This rivalry is defined by its sheer volume of meetings, with the two clubs having played more than 190 times, making it the most-played series in professional football. It transcends mere sports statistics, representing a clash of Midwestern identities where every victory carries weight for generations of fans, often determining playoff fates and shaping the narrative of NFL history.
- First Meeting
- 1921
- Total Games Played
- Over 190
- All-Time Series Leader
- Green Bay Packers (slight edge)
- Super Bowl Championships Won
- Chicago Bears (Super Bowl XX), Green Bay Packers (I, II, XXXI, XLV)
- Regular Season Meetings per Year
- Varied historically; guaranteed twice annually only after modern scheduling formats were established
Lore & Background
The origins of this feud stretch back to the early days of professional football when George Halas, founder of the Decatur Staleys (soon to be the Chicago Bears), faced off against Curly Lambeau's Green Bay team. For decades, these games were the heartbeat of the NFL, often deciding league championships before the Super Bowl era existed. The rivalry survived the Great Depression, World War II, and massive shifts in league structure, maintaining its intensity even when one team struggled while the other dominated.
The dynamic shifted dramatically with the arrival of Vince Lombardi in Green Bay, creating a golden age where the Packers claimed five championships in seven years, frequently besting the Bears on their way to glory. However, the 1980s saw the pendulum swing back as Mike Ditka's 'Monsters of the Midway' Bears dismantled the league, including historic victories over Green Bay that cemented a dynasty. The lore is written not just in trophies, but in the frozen turf of Lambeau Field and the roaring crowds at Soldier Field, where every tackle feels like a battle for regional pride.
In Their Own Story
The wind howls off Lake Michigan, whipping snow into a blinding curtain that obscures the frozen turf of Lambeau Field or chills the concrete of Soldier Field. In this cauldron of navy and orange clashing against green and yellow, history doesn't just sit in the stands; it breathes through ten thousand shivering fans. A quarterback drops back, eyes squinting against the grey sky, knowing that one errant throw could erase years of heartbreak or ignite a dynasty. The ball spirals upward, suspended in time between two cities that refuse to yield, as the roar becomes a physical force vibrating through cleats and bones alike.
Reader's Guide
The Bears-Packers rivalry began in 1921 when the Decatur Staleys (soon renamed Chicago) faced Curly Lambeau's Green Bay squad, launching the longest continuous series in NFL history. Fueled by geographic proximity and a relentless battle for NFC North supremacy, this is not a sporadic grudge match but a biannual inevitability that defines both franchises' seasons.
While every meeting carries weight, stakes reach a fever pitch when both teams enter as contenders. The 1967 'Ice Bowl,' though technically an NFL Championship game rather than a regular-season clash, remains the rivalry's most iconic chapter—a frozen tableau of survival where the Packers edged out Chicago in sub-zero temperatures to claim a title. From Halas and Lambeau's early chess matches to the modern gridiron wars, the series has consistently dictated division titles and playoff fates for nearly a century.
Did You Know?
- While often cited for its unique championship split, this is not the only rivalry where one team has won a Super Bowl and the other four; the New York Jets (1) and New York Giants (4) share this exact record within their
- The two franchises have met more times than any other pair of teams in professional football history.
- For many years, the winner of this series was essentially crowned the **NFC Central** champion before the division format changed to the NFC North in 2002.
- George Halas and Curly Lambeau were contemporaries who helped build the NFL, yet their teams became bitter enemies on the field.