Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers
The oldest rivalry in football, forged in ice and blood on the gridiron.
The Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers rivalry is more than a schedule fixture; it is NFL history in real time. Dating back to 1921, this matchup stands as the league's oldest continuous annual contest, a decade-spanning feud that has dictated NFC North supremacy since before the Super Bowl era existed.
- Rivalry Status
- Oldest continuous rivalry in NFL history
- First Meeting
- 1921 (as Decatur Staleys vs. Green Bay)
- Total Meetings
- Over 200 regular season and playoff games
- Championships at Stake
- Multiple conference titles and division crowns decided
Lore & Background
In the mid-20th century, power swung violently between the franchises like a pendulum. The Bears' 'Monsters of the Midway' defense crushed opponents in the 1940s, while the Packers seized control with Lombardi-led offenses in the late 50s and 60s. Even during eras where one team stumbled into obscurity, the weekly showdown remained a battle for regional survival, where every win was a trophy claimed from the neighbor next door.
In Their Own Story
Winter Sundays at Soldier Field or Lambeau Field are rarely gentle. The wind cuts through layers of wool and nylon, carrying the scent of hot dogs and deep freeze air. Generations of fans have huddled in concrete stands, clutching jerseys from eras past—1985, 2018, 1946—watching linemen clash with a ferocity that shakes the bleachers. It is never just about points on a scoreboard; it is a war for ownership of the North, written in mud, snow, and bruised ribs between two cities that refuse to share the crown.
Reader's Guide
Rooted in the NFL's charter era, this rivalry began in 1921 as a struggle between franchise founders George Halas and Curly Lambeau. The stakes evolved from regional survival to league supremacy. Key flashpoints include the 1965 NFL Championship (Packers' fourth title) and the 2018 overtime thriller where the Bears snatched victory, keeping their playoff run alive. Proximity fuels the fire: two cities, multiple Super Bowls between them, and a fanbase culture where dividing the season into 'before the Packers' and 'after the Packers' is common practice.
Did You Know?
- This rivalry is unique in NFL history; both teams have met at least once every season since their first game in 1921.
- George Halas (Bears) and Curly Lambeau (Packers) were colleagues during the league's founding days before becoming bitter rivals.
- The Bears hold the all-time win record in the series, though the Packers have often dominated recent decades.
- Hall of Fame coaches Vince Lombardi and Mike Ditka faced off directly in this matchup, adding coaching legacy to the on-field battle.