Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson makes his longstanding feud with Green Bay Packers HC Matt LaFleur known

Historically, the Green Bay Packers have won 109 games against the Chicago Bears in 213 games. Wait, before one does the math, leaving just 98 wins for Ben Johnson’s Bears. Has he kept this in his mind for far too long? Why else would he reignite a past feud with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur? When NBC Sports’ Mike Florio asked Johnson at the NFL Combine about the Packers, the Chicago coach said, “Who likes the Packers? The Bears and the Packers should not like each other.

It’s as simple as that. That’s going to make this rivalry, this game something that people are going to watch here going forward.”

Bears coach Ben Johnson admits to never talking to Packers coach Matt LaFleur

Florio asked Johnson whether he had spoken to LaFleur at all or had any relationship with him. That’s when Johnson said, “No, we don’t talk.” Now comes the blunt touch to his comment: When Florio asked him if Johnson wanted it to stay that way, where he does not talk to LaFleur, Johnson replied without a second thought or a blink, “I’m good with it.” The analyst pressed if the Packers coach had tried to reach out, but Johnson admitted, “No.” It appears the feeling’s mutual.

Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur rivalry

Johnson had just tasted the first few days of a head coach’s role in Chicago, after a five-year stint with the Detroit Lions. In his introductory speech, he mentioned that he enjoyed beating LaFleur twice a year as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. This was the first observation. Then, a little more fire came when their postgame handshake went viral online.

After the Bears defeated the Packers in the 2025 season’s NFC Wild Card Round, Johnson had a brief, quick, subtle, icy-cold, and momentary handshake with LaFleur. When LaFleur came to him, waiting to exchange a few words and say congratulations, Johnson did not wait for him to say anything! He came running, shook hands with LaFleur, and went off running in the other direction. What follows a month later, before the 2026 season? “We don’t talk,” and LaFleur has not reached out to talk either.

If someone greets a losing team’s coach as Johnson did, it may have stayed with him. Plus, the aftermath that came after Chicago had won the wild card? It was even wilder than one can imagine. We know, digging old graves, but that’s what’s fueled this feud!So, after the game, as a head coach must deliver his winning speech for his winning team, Johnson says, “F**k the Packers! F**k them! I f*****g hate those guys!” No wonder Green Bay’s coach has not tried to talk to this coach.