Green Bay Packers - Chicago Bears
The oldest rivalry in the NFL, forged in mud, snow, and a century of glory.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears rivalry stands as the oldest continuous matchup in National Football League history, dating back to the league's formative years in 1921. As two of the franchise pillars that helped define professional football in America, their annual clashes are steeped in over a century of tradition, featuring legendary coaches like Vince Lombardi and George Halas.
This historic feud is not merely about divisional standings; it represents a clash of identities between Wisconsin's small-town community ownership model and Chicago's big-market industrial might. The rivalry has produced some of the most iconic moments in sports history, from the 'Ice Bowl' era to modern playoff battles, serving as the heartbeat of the NFL schedule for generations.
- First Meeting
- 1921
- Total Meetings
- Over 190 games
- Key Figure (Packers)
- Vince Lombardi
- Key Figure (Bears)
- George Halas
- Rivalry Status
- Active and Ongoing
- Division
- NFC North
Lore & Background
Born from the early days when teams traveled by train to play on frozen fields, this rivalry was cemented by the mutual respect and fierce competition between George Halas, who founded the Bears (originally the Decatur Staleys), and Curly Lambeau, who established the Packers. For decades, these two franchises dominated the league, often battling for the same championships in an era before the Super Bowl existed. The intensity of their matchups helped establish the NFL as a major American sport.
The dynamic shifted dramatically with the arrival of Vince Lombardi in Green Bay in 1959, turning the Packers into a dynasty that frequently had to dismantle Halas's Bears to claim supremacy. The rivalry reached its mythical peak during the 1960s, characterized by brutal defensive battles and weather-defying conditions. Even as eras changed, from the '80s to the modern era, the mutual animosity remained a constant, with each victory serving as a badge of honor for fans who have inherited these feuds through generations.
In Their Own Story
The wind screamed off Lake Michigan, slicing through wool coats as fans huddled against the chill at Wrigley Field. Inside the huddle, mud crusted on a quarterback's brow, his leather helmet creaking under the weight of history. Across the line of scrimmage, Chicago's defense stood like an iron wall, eyes locked on the ball with a century-old intensity. The crowd erupted—a roar that had echoed through these stands since the 1920s, embodying the raw hatred and grudging respect between two cities. As the play was called, every player knew: winning here wasn't just about points; it was erasing a generational stain.
Reader's Guide
This rivalry ignited in 1921 when the Decatur Staleys (soon to be the Bears) first faced Curly Lambeau's Packers. It remains the NFL's longest-running fixture, a ledger filled with championship clashes from the pre-Super Bowl era to modern showdowns.
Key flashpoints include the legendary 1932 playoff game played on an indoor field that birthed the forward pass rule, and the brutal Lombardi-era battles where Green Bay had to topple Halas's Bears repeatedly to claim dynasty status. The rivalry is further defined by its grueling geography: a relentless alternation between the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field and the wind-swept concrete canyons of Soldier Field.
Did You Know?
- The Packers and Bears have played more games against each other than any two teams in NFL history.
- George Halas (Bears) and Curly Lambeau (Packers) were both instrumental in founding the NFL itself.
- For decades, these two teams held the record for the most combined Super Bowl appearances before recent expansions.
- The rivalry is so deep that fans often refer to beating the other team as 'settling the score' regardless of the final standings.