Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears Rivalry Timeline

The Green bay Packers and Chicago Bears rivalry is one of best in the history of organized sports — and our favorite.

The Packers lead the rivalry with a 106-95-6 record (Including a 1-1 record in the postseason). Green Bay is currently riding a nine-game winning streak over the Bears.

This rivalry, experienced through the ‘big city vs small town’ lens, has it all.

One side has routinely had historically great quarterbacks and the other has boasted historically great defenses. One team’s running game has, over the years, been stronger where the other team has been the better passing offense.

These two teams are No. 1 and No. 2 in all-time wins, World Championships and Hall of Fame inductees. They’re the oldest rivals in the league. They hate each other, but a level of brotherly-respect still remains.

You cannot even begin to talk about NFL history without starting right here. Both teams have been in their cities longer than any other teams in the league and some of the most mythical names in football history have participated in and shaped this rivalry — and NFL history.

Without franchise founders George Halas (Bears) and Curly Lambeau (Packers) there might not even be an NFL. Any team from the NFC that wins the Super Bowl earns the right to hoist both of their trophies as conference and league champions. That is how special this rivalry is.

The two midwestern cities sit around 200 miles from each other, both on the shore of beautiful Lake Michigan. It’s a culturally-important game in Illinois, Wisconsin and beyond that’s played twice a year. These fanbases love to trash-talk each other, but those on both sides can agree on a love for beer and grilling quality meats.

Below are some of the biggest events in the history of this incredibly fascinating rivalry. Fans of both teams should find ample joy from seeing how this rivalry has evolved over the last 100 years.

Timeline of the Rivalry:

• Franchises Established: The Packers were formed on August 11, 1919 and played two seasons of independent football before joining the NFL in 1921 (called the APFA at the time). The Bears were formed on September 17, 1920, the Decatur Staleys at the time, and immediately joined the brand new NFL (APFA) as charter members. George “Papa Bear” Halas was instrumental in creating and sustaining the league.
• First Game: November 27, 1921. The Bears (then called the Chicago Staleys) defeated the Packers 20-0 at Cubs Park in Chicago in the first matchup between these franchises. But the real story of this game was centered around the many Packers fans that took a train down from Green Bay and caused a ruckus in downtown Chicago prior to the game announcing their presence. If the rivalry wasn’t officially started then, it would be soon. First Blood: In the game Chicago’s Tarzan Taylor punched Green Bay’s Cub Buck in the nose, breaking it, thus officially beginning football’s greatest rivalry. First Touchdown: Pete Stinchcomb scored the first touchdown in the rivalry and the first for the Bears against the Packers (a 45 yard run). Halas: George Halas caught a touchdown in this game; he’d go on to be one of the central figures of this rivalry. He might actually be the biggest name in the history of the rivalry (as he had a rivalry with Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi).
• First Championship goes to Chicago: In 1921 the Chicago Staleys win the World Championship after finishing the regular season with a 9-1-1 record (going 1-0 against the Packers). This was the first time either team won a championship, but wouldn’t be the last (Packers and Bears and No. 1 and No. 2 in NFL history in World Championships).
• The AFPA Changes Name to NFL: In 1922 the AFPA changed it’s name to the NFL and, interestingly, it was one of the two years the two teams didn’t play in the entire history of their rivalry (the other being the strike-shortened 1982 season). This was the year the team officially changed its name to the Chicago Bears. Drama: The Packers were kicked out of the league for illegally using college players that year. It was Halas, reportedly, who discovered the illegal action, but also him who campaigned the league to let the Packers back in.
• Third Lowest Scoring Games: October 14, 1923: The Bears beat the Packers 3-0. The third-lowest scoring game in the series’ history, tied only by the game played the following year.
• Ejection for Fighting: November 23, 1924. Bears’ Frank Hanny and Packers’ Tillie Voss threw punches and were both ejected; it was the first time in NFL history that players were suspended for fighting. The Bears won 3-0 at Cubs Park in Chicago. The anger and intensity within this rivalry has been around from the very beginning. The Packers got shutout for their third consecutive game against the Bears.
• First Packers Win: September 27, 1925. The Packers won 14-10 at City Stadium in Green Bay. Verne Lewellen caught a last second touchdown pass from Charlie Mathys to win the game. 5,389 people were there to watch. First Packers Touchdown: Moose Gardner scored the first points for the Packers in this rivalry on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone. Oddly, the Bears also recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a score in this game.
• Bears Respond to Their First Loss: November 22, 1925. The Packers were riding high with a 7-2 record, the Bears came into the game 5-2-2 record. However the Bears, playing at Cubs Park, shutout the Packers 21-0. The Bears’ Joey Sternaman caught a touchdown, threw a touchdown, and kicked three extra points.
• First Tie: September 26, 1926: The Packers hosted the Bears in the first game that would end with the score tied. Green Bay’s Cully Lidberg ran in a score in the third quarter, while Paddy Driscoll’s fourth quarter touchdown reception tied the game. It would end 6-6.
• First Game at Wrigley Field: November 21, 1926. The Bears won 19-13 in Chicago at one of the most famous venues in sport. Paddy Driscoll had a big day for the Bears making two filed goals and running in a fumble recovery for a score.
• More Close Games: October 2, 1927. This game came in the middle of a six-game stretch where these teams played one score games. In this one, Packers great Verne Lewellen ran in Green Bay’s lone score. However the Bears would win 7-6 on a Bill Senn touchdown run. The Packers failed on their point after attempt.
• Another Tie Game: September 30, 1928. 8,500 fans packed into City Stadium to watch the Bears take on the Packers. The Bears scored on an 80-yard punt return by Dick Sturtridge, while the Packers got two touchdowns from Verne Lewellen. However the game would end in a 12-12 tie. In just the 11th matchup in the rivalry, this was already the third tie game.
• First Championship for the Packers: It was in 1929 that the Packers won their first World Championship finishing with an undefeated record of 12-0-1 (going 2-0 against the Bears). They’d go on to win three straight World Championships. The 1929 squad remains the only undefeated team in Packers history.

The 1920s: Chicago Bears went 7-6-3 against the Green Bay Packers

Bears Championships: 1921

Packers Championships: 1929

All-Time Series Heading Into 1930: Bears Leading 7-6-3

• Shutout Streak: September 28, 1930. The Green Bay Packers complete their fifth straight shutout of the Chicago Bears, something that will certainly never happen again in the history of the rivalry.
• Packers Atop The Rivalry: November 9, 1930. The Packers win their seventh consecutive game against the Bears in a 13-12 win at Wrigley Field (where that winning streak would end). Verne Lewellen and Johnny Blood both scored for the Packers. In that win the Packers would go ahead in the all-time series for the first time with a record of 8-7-3. They would overtake the series again in 1931 and 1932, but wouldn’t regain their lead in the series again until 2017.
•  A Superstar Shines: December 7, 1930. The Chicago Bears’ Red Grange was the first true superstar to participate in the Packers-Bears rivalry. The Hall of Fame halfback was one of the most famous football players of the first 20 years of NFL football. In this game, at Wrigley Field, he led the Bears to a 21-0 victory while throwing two touchdown passes. Johnny Blood was his counterpart in Green Bay’s offensive backfield for five years (1929-1933).
• Lowest Scoring Game in NFL History: September 25, 1932. The Bears and Packers tied 0-0 in, obviously, the lowest scoring game in NFL history. 13,000 unlucky souls packed into City Stadium in Green Bay to witness the scoreless game. This was also the year that the Bears couldn’t make payroll and accepted a $1,500 IOU from the Packers to stay afloat.
• Bears Storm Back: December 11, 1932. The Bears begin a six game winning streak, taking a firm grip on the all-time series. That is, until one of the best players in league history arrived in the rivalry (see more about Don Hutson below).
• 1932 Bears: This team had the league’s top rated offense and defense in the same season. Therefore, one of the best teams in league history.
• The Six-Game Struggle: 1931-1932. The Packers post a 3-2-1 record against the Bears in a six-game stretch where neither team scored more than nine points. The scores were 7-0, 6-2, 6-7, 0-0, 2-0 and 0-9. Brutal.
• Five Straight World Championships for Bears-Packers: This rivalry finished its unprecedented run of five straight NFL Championships. The Packers won it all in 1929-31 and the Bears won it all in 1932-33. These franchises flexed their muscles as the best franchises, and rivalry, in the NFL as the game started to become more modern.
• Clarke Hinkle and Bronko Nagurski: 1934. A collision between Hinkle (Packers) and Nagurski (Bears) knocked the Chicago superstar out of the game. Nagurski recalled it as the only time he was knocked out of a game. These two-way playing fullbacks battled each throughout the 1930s, each being named First Team All-Pro four times. Each led the NFL in rushing touchdowns once. Nagurski called Hinkle, “The toughest man I ever played against.”
• Bronko Nagurski’s Fourth Quarter: September 23, 1934. The Packers and Bears were tied 10-10 heading into the fourth quarter. Nagurski led the Bears to a 24-10 victory following two fourth quarter touchdown runs. He threw a touchdown earlier in the game, too.
• The 1934 Bears: 1934. This was the first of two undefeated seasons in Bears history. The 1934 squad went 13-0, led by Bronco Nagurski and an aging Red Grange. The other undefeated Chicago season came in 1942.
• Don Hutson’s First Touchdown: September 22, 1935. Don Hutson caught his first career touchdown of his transcendent Hall of Fame career. His 83-yard touchdown was the lone score of the game. The Packers won 7-0. He was the first bonafide superstar for the Packers, matching and surpassing the impact of Chicago’s Red Grange.
• The 1936 Packers: 1936. Green Bay went 10-1-1 on the year. This was the first team in Packers history to win a title by winning a World Championship Game. The team was led by passer Arnie Herber and runner Clark Hinkle.
• Another Classic Lambeau/Halas Bout: November 7, 1937. The 6-2 Packers defeated the 5-1-1 Chicago Bears 24-14 at Wrigley Field with nearly 45,000 fans in attendance. Don Hutson scored in the first quarter and Clark Hinkle scored in the fourth quarter for the Packers. Green Bay won the day, but the Bears put together the better season finishing 9-1, losing in the Championship game to Washington.
• Only a Safety Scored, Second Lowest Scoring Game: September 18, 1938. The Chicago Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers 2-0 at City Stadium in Green Bay on a fourth quarter safety caused by a bad snap on a punt. This has to be one of the most bizarre games in the history of the rivalry — what a brutal way to lose.
• Using the Rivalry to Build the NFL: November 5, 1939. The National Football League uses a Packers-Bears game a commercial of sorts to sell professional football to Americans. Among the quotes in the package are, “They are rated as having the strongest passing attack in the country” and “Chicago’s Wrigley Field is always jammed for a Green Bay Packers game.” As well as, “The rivalry between these two teams is the longest in post-graduate football. They have a wholesome respect for each other.” You grow sports with superstars and rivalries, so this game had it all. The Game: Despite a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown pass from Arnie Herber to Don Hutson, the Bears won the game 30-27 on a touchdown run from Bill Osmanski. Sid Luckman: Future Hall of Fame quarterback, Luckman, made his presence known. The great quarterback threw his first touchdown against the Packers in this matchup. This exciting game, and rivalry as a whole, certainly helped market and build the NFL in the Midwest and beyond. His legend would only grow form there, as would the rivalry. Both Team Scoring 20+ Points: This was the 40th time these two teams had played and it was the first time both scored 20+ points in the same game, a milestone of sorts.

The 1930s: The Chicago Bears went 12-11-1 against the Green Bay Packers

Packers Championships: 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939

Bears Championships: 1932, 1933

All-Time Series Heading Into 1940: Bears Leading 19-17-4

• Packers Shock the “Invincible” Bears: November 2, 1941. The Bears beat the Packers earlier in the season and many writers, at the time of the second matchup, thought the Bears were destined for an undefeated championship season. Up until this matchup, the Bears had outscored their opponents 209-52. Their last three games were won 53-7, 49-0, and 34-7. However the Packers, led by Cecil Isbell, upset the Bears. But Chicago would get the last laugh later in the season.
• First Playoff Game: December 14, 1941. The Bears won 33-14 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Clark Hinkle opened the scoring for the Packers, but Chicago’s Norm Standlee ran for two scores as the Bears ran away with the game. The Bears would go on to win the World Championship.
• Joe F. Carr Trophy: 1941-43. The first MVP trophy (predating the AP MVP Award) was the Joe F. Carr Trophy. It was handed out from 1938-1946 and was won by a Packer or Bear in three straight seasons at one point. Don Hutson won it in 1941-42, while Sid Luckman won it in 1943. Hutson was the first multiple MVP winner in NFL history.
• Bears Upstage Packers During Hutson’s Historic Season: September 27, 1942. Packers end Don Hutson catches two touchdowns in a season in which he caught an astonishing 17 touchdowns in 11 games. However Chicago’s Gary Famiglietti scored three rushing touchdowns and all-time great center-linebacker Bulldog Turner recorded the only two-interception game of his career. Undefeated Bears: Chicago would win the season’s other matchup, too, as the team went undefeated (11-0). The team was led by Sid Luckman.
• 28 Unanswered Points… Twice in the Same Game: September 24, 1944. The Packers got up 28-0 in the second quarter against their rival Bears. Chicago would storm back however, tying the game at 28-28 in the fourth quarter. Green Bay would then go up 35-28 and with the game hanging in the balance, Ted Fritsch intercepted a Sid Luckman pass and returned it for a touchdown. Packers win 42-28. Lou Brock scored twice for the Packers while George Wilson scored twice for the Bears.
• 1942 Bears: This team had the league’s top rated offense and defense in the same season. Therefore, one of the best teams in league history.
• Superstar Clash Ends in Tie: September 26, 1943. The two teams faced each other in the season premiere, with both squads having legitimate title hopes. The Bears’ Sid Luckman threw a touchdown pass first, but the Packers’ Ted Fritsch and Irv Comp both responded with touchdown runs. Chicago’s Bill Osmanski scored, followed by a Don Hutson touchdown catch on a pass from Tony Canadeo. So many superstars in this match, yet both squads would start the season 0-0-1.
• Don Hutson’s Final Game Against Chicago: November 4, 1945. One of the all-time greatest players in NFL history, Don Hutson, played in his final game in this rivalry. The Bears won 28-24. Hutson didn’t catch a touchdown, but he did successfully kick three extra points. Irv Comp threw a 67 yard touchdown pass and scored on a 54 yard interception. The Bears’ Sid Luckman threw one touchdown on the day and Jim Fordham’s third quarter touchdown run was the difference.
• Bears Win Sloppy Game: November 3, 1946. The first half ended tied at zero. The Packers scored the lone offensive touchdown of the day, but the Bears took the 10-7 victory with the help of a 30 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Ed Sprinkle. There were five turnovers (four fumbles) between the two teams.
• Sid Luckman’s Bad Day: September 28, 1947. Sid Luckman throws a career-high five interceptions in a 29-20 loss to the Packers at City Stadium. A rare bad day from the all-time great signal caller.
• Bobby Layne Makes an Appearance: November 14, 1948. Rookie quarterback (and future Hall of Fame inductee) Bobby Layne throws a touchdown for the Bears’ lone touchdown on the day, defeating the Packers 7-6. Green Bay was poised to tie the game scoring in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert the try after. Tony Canadeo had 19 touches for the Packers, but it wasn’t enough.
• Lambeau’s Last Stand: November 6, 1949. In Curly Lambeau’s final game against Chicago as Green Bay’s head coach, the Bears spoil the party at Wrigley Field and won 24-3.
• Domination by the Bears: The 1940s were the most second-most dominant period in the rivalry for either team; the Bears were +12 wins in this decade. This was the decade their lead in the series widened. The Packers’ 2010s would later top this decade by one win.

The 1940s: The Chicago Bears went 16-4-1 against the Green Bay Packers

Bears Championships: 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946

Packers Championships: 1944

All-time Series Heading Into 1950: Bears Leading 35-21-5

• Packers Win With Three Non-Offensive Scores: October 1, 1950. The Bears put up 402 yards from scrimmage and 23 first downs. The Packers had just 223 yards and eight first downs. Still, the Packers found a way to win 31-21 by returning two interceptions and a punt for touchdown.
• Bears Foil Tobin Rote’s Career Day: November 18, 1951. Tobin Rote, one of the most underrated dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history, hung a career-high 150 rushing yards on the Bears. The Packers got up 13-3 on a Rote pass to Tony Canadeo, but Chicago stormed back to win 24-13 on the strength of John Dottley’s 117 rushing yards.
• George Blanda Out-Duels Tobin Rote: October 4, 1953. Tobin Rote threw a touchdown to Bob Mann for the Packers, but George Blanda had the better day. He accounted for 11 points in the Bears’ 17-13 win.
• The Last Tie Game in the Series: November 8, 1953. The last time the these two teams played to a tie was this 21-21 game in Chicago. Both Bobby Dillon (Packers) and Don Kindt (Bears) both had pick-sixes in the game.
• Back and Fourth Game: November 7, 1954. The Bears got up 14-0 on the Packers, then Green Bay scored 23 unanswered points. The Bears would then respond with 14 unanswered points to win the game 28-23. Packers quarterback Tobin Rote and Bears quarterback George Blanda both threw two touchdowns on the day.
• Dual-Threat QB Shines: October 2, 1955. Tobin Rote led the Packers to a 24-3 victory over the Bears. He ran in one touchdown and threw two others, including one to the great end (wide receiver) Billy Howton. He didn’t throw an interception in the game, but the Bears’ quarterback, Ed Brown, threw four. Hall of Fame safety Bobby Dillon snagged one of them.
• Highest Scoring Game: November 6, 1955. Chicago was up 45-3 in the fourth quarter, but 29 fourth quarter points from the Packers made the game look closer than it was. Ultimately Chicago won 52-31 at Wrigley Field. Green Bay’s Tobin Rote threw for and ran for a touchdown, but the Bears’ Rick Casares and Bobby Watkins’ 230 rushing yards and three touchdowns proved too much. The Bears had three different passers combine for just 16 attempts. 10 Turnover Game: The Packers and Bears combined for 10 turnovers in this rather bizarre game. Both Teams With 30+ Points: In what was the 73rd ever matchup between these team, both the Bears and Packers scored 30+ points for the first time in the series. It remains the highest scoring game in Packers-Bears history.
• Rick Casares Leads the Bears: October 7, 1956. The Bears beat the Packers 37-21 in what would be the final Packers-Bears game at City Stadium. Bears’ fullback Casares put up 189 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns to lead the way, while Packers safety Bobby Dillon recorded an interception (the only turnover of the game). Chicago kicker George Blanda put up 12 points in the outing.
• Bart Starr is Rudely Welcomed to the Rivalry: November 11, 1956. Packers’ quarterback Tobin Rote threw three interceptions on the day, at Wrigley Field, and rookie Bart Starr got some extended play against the Bears. Starr threw two interceptions of his own and the Bears won 38-14.
• First Game at “New” City Stadium: September 29, 1957. The Packers beat the Bears 21-17 in a comeback effort at Green Bay. It was the first ever game at Lambeau Field, called “New” City Stadium at the time. And George Halas had previously spent a little time in Green Bay lobbying to the community to buy bonds to support the building of the stadium (necessary to keep the Packers in Green Bay). Billy Howton, First Team All-Pro that year, recorded 165 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions.
• Packers’ Worst Season: September 28, 1958. In the season opener of what would become the Packers’ worst ever season (1-10-1) the Bears set the Packers off on the wrong foot. Packers safety Bobby Dillon led off the scoring with an interception returned for a touchdown, but it was all downhill from there. Chicago won 34-20 and Green Bay’s season didn’t get better from there.
• Lombardi’s First Game as Head Coach: September 27, 1959. The Packers beat the Bears 9-6 at City Stadium (soon to be known as Lambeau Field) in Vince Lombardi’s first game as head coach and first game against the Bears. Jim Taylor scored the game’s lone touchdown while Bears’ great linebacker Bill George recorded an interception. Halas, apparently, advocated for Lombardi to land Green Bay’s coaching vacancy. Wonder if he ever regretted that?

The 1950s: The Chicago Bears went 14-5-1 against the Green Bay Packers

No Championships Won in the Decade

All-Time Series Heading Into 1960: Bears Leading 49-26-6

• First Team to 50 Wins: September 25, 1960: The Chicago Bears earn their 50th all-time win against the Packers with a 17-14 win at Lambeau Field (to be later named Lambeau Field). Chicago reached this milestone long before the Packers would notch their 50th win in the series.
• Hornung Hangs 23 Points on the Bears: December 4, 1960. Paul Hornung kicked off the game with a field goal. He’d end the game with 100 yards from scrimmage, a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown, five extra points and two field goals.
• Bart Starr’s Best Game Against the Bears: November 12, 1961. Bart Starr throws three touchdowns, including a 53 yard touchdown pass to Ron Kramer. The Bears would launch a comeback, but the Packers would hold on to win 31-28. Paul Hornung: In the same game, Hornung put up 128 yards from scrimmage, a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, kicked four extra points and one field goal (scoring 19 of Green bay’s 31 points on the day). He would go on to be named MVP of the league that year. Mike Ditka: Not to be outdone, Ditka was a star in this game, too. He recorded 190 yards and three touchdowns on nine receptions, despite the loss.
• AP MVP Jim Taylor: 1962. Jim Taylor destroyed the Bears twice en route to his MVP Award (following Hornung the year before). In the first matchup with Chicago he ran for 126 yards and three touchdowns. In the second he ran for 124 yards and four touchdowns. He likely doesn’t win MVP without those two stellar games.
• 1962 Packers: This team had the league’s top rated offense and defense in the same season. Therefore, one of the best teams in league history.
• Largest Packers Victory: September 30, 1962. The Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi, shutout George Halas’ Bears 49-0 on the strength of Jim Taylor’s 126 yard, three touchdown day. Green Bay would go on to win the NFL title that year, going 2-0 against the Bears. Side Note: Halas spent the offseason obsessing over beating the Packers and his Bears responded by beating the Packers twice in 1963 on their way to an NFL title of their own.
• First Place on the Line: November 16, 1963. Both the Packers and Bears had 8-1 records and first place in the Western Conference was on the line. The Bears won 26-7 on the strength of seven turnovers created. Chicago would go on to win the conference and the World Championship.
• Free Kick Attempt: September 13, 1964. Vince Lombardi shocked the football world by attempting a rarely-used “free kick” attempt at the end of the first half. Elijah Pitts fair caught a punt with a few seconds left on the clock. Bart Starr then got to hold for Paul Hornung to attempt a 52 yard uncontested, per the rule, field goal. He made it and the Packers would go on to win the game 23-12.
• Enter Gales Sayers and Dick Butkus: The Bears drafted stellar rookies Sayers and Butkus in 1965. October 3, 1965. The Packers defeat the Bears 23-14 despite Sayers’ two touchdowns. October 31, 1965. The Bears get revenge and beat Green Bay 31-10 as Sayers scores once. Both rookies would be named First Team All-Pro and both would go on to be named to the Hall of Fame. However the Packers would win the championship that season.
• Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus: 1965. These two players, both from Chicago, personified football and the game’s ultimate rivalry. They were the black and blue of the black and blue division; they were the perfect link between professional football’s ruthless past and larger-than-life character driven future. The game hasn’t seen a middle linebacker like Butkus since his retirement.
• Bart Starr AP MVP: 1966. Bart Starr was named AP MVP of the league. His Packers went 2-0 against the Bears. Interestingly enough, his worst game of the year (34.5 rating) came in a 17-0 win in Chicago.
• Packers Somehow Win Despite Starr’s Bad Day: September 24, 1967. Despite Bart Starr having the worst game of his career (five interceptions and no touchdowns) the Packers won 13-10 on the efforts of running back Jim Grabowski.
• Redemption for Bart Starr: November 26, 1967. The Packers, en route to their third straight NFL (and World) Championship defeat the Bears 17-13 at Wrigley Field. Gale Sayers put up 117 rushing yards and a score, but it wasn’t enough. Bob Jeter and Willie Wood recorded interceptions for the Packers, after Bart Starr’s touchdown pass to Boyd Dowler opened the scoring.
• The Dynasty of Lombardi’s Packers: 1960s. Green Bay won five World Championships in a seven years span (1961, ’62, ’65, ’66, and ’67) including the first two Super Bowls. In the midst of that seven year span the Chicago Bears won a World Championship in 1963.
• Gale Sayers’ Career High in Yards: November 3, 1968. Gale Sayers put up 205 yards on the ground on 24 carries in the Bears’ 13-10 win over the Packers. A 50 yard pass from Bart Starr to Carroll Dale wasn’t enough for Green Bay.
• One-Point Game: December 15, 1968. The Packers win 28-27, the first time a game within this rivalry was decided by just one point since 1930. Boyd Dowler caught the score that would end up the game-winning score. There have since been six Packers-Bears games decided by one point.
• The 100th Game in the All-Time Series: September 21, 1969. For the 100th time in the history of this rivalry these two franchises met. The Packers defeated the Bears 17-0; Bart Starr led off the scoring with a 31 yard touchdown pass to Travis Williams. In the next matchup of the season the Packers won 21-3, but that game is notable because both Dick Butkus (Bears) and Ray Nitschke (Packers) recorded interceptions.

The 1960s: The Green Bay Packers went 15-5 against the Chicago Bears

Packers Championships: 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967

Bears Championships: 1963

All-Time Series Heading Into 1970: Bears Leading 54-41-6

• Bart Starr’s Farewell/Vince Lombardi’s Death: November 15, 1970. Starr wins his final start (and complete game played) against the Chicago Bears in a 20-19 victory on a game-winning rushing touchdown by the quarterback. This also happened to be the first Packers-Bears game at Lambeau Field following Vince Lombardi passing away. The Packers won 20-19. What a moment in Packers-Bears history.
• First Game at Solider Field: November 7, 1971. The Packers won 17-14 in Chicago. The Bears have played at Soldier Field ever since. Chicago couldn’t overcome Bobby Douglass’s three interceptions.
• Chester Marcol’s First Taste of the Rivalry: October 8, 1972. The 2-1 Packers got up 17-3 over the 0-2-1 Bears at the half. Chicago stormed back to tie the game at 17, but Chester Marcol’s fourth quarter field goal saved the victory. The rookie kicker, Marcol, would be named First-Team All Pro that season.
• Only Game in Milwaukee: November 10, 1974. The Packers won 20-3 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee. Green Bay’s John Brockington scored the lone touchdown from scrimmage on the day.
• The Jon Staggers Game: December 16, 1973. Undersized wide receiver Jon Staggers caught just four touchdowns in his Packers career. He caught two of them in this 21-0 shutout of the Bears. In this rivalry, you never know who is going to be the hero in any given game.
• Walter Payton’s Second Career Touchdown: November 9, 1975. Walter Payton scores his second career touchdown and first against the Packers in a 27-14 Bears victory. He’d go on to score 19 touchdowns against the Packers, the most of any opponent.
• Sweetness Makes His MVP Case, Part 1: October 10, 1977. Walter Payton (“Sweetness”) runs for 205 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-0 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field. It was the second most yards he’d ever rush for in an NFL game. Of course he did it against the Packers.
• Sweetness Makes His MVP Case, Part 2: December 11, 1977. This time Payton would make his case in the brutal cold (10 degrees). He followed up his fabulous October game with this 163 yard, two touchdown performance at Soldier Field. Those games bolstered his MVP case, an award he won in 1977. It remains the lone AP MVP won by a Chicago Bear all-time.
• Walter Payton – NFL Man of the Year: 1977. The NFL Man of the Year Award was first awarded in 1970. Walter Payton was the first Bear or Packer to win the award in 1977. The annual award honors a player’s volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. In 1999 the award’s name was changed to the “Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.” Five Chicago Bears have won it, most recently Charles “Peanut” Tillman in 2013. The first winner was Johnny Unitas and other winners include Dan Marino, Anthony Munoz, J.J. Watt and most recently Russell Wilson.
• Frigid Shutout: December 10, 1978. Head coach Bart Starr led his Packers to Solider Field for a freezing game. Some say it was 1 degrees with a wind chill of -16 degrees. Green Bay was favored, but were shutout 14-0. Walter Payton opened the scoring with a touchdown run in the second quarter. This contest remains one of the coldest games in franchise history.
• Lowest Scoring Game of the Super Bowl Era: September 2, 1979. The Packers and Bears combine to score just nine points in a 6-3 Bears victory. Three field goals were made on the day and Walter Payton’s 174 total yards led the game.
• Bears Win Without an Offensive Touchdown: December 9, 1979. The Packers lost to the Bears 15-14 at Lambeau Field in a game where the Bears didn’t have an offensive touchdown. Lynn Dickey and Paul Coffman combined for two touchdown passes, but that wasn’t enough for the Bears’ three field goals and interception returned for a touchdown by Tom Hicks. Both James Lofton and Walter Payton put up over a hundred yards, but neither scored.

The 1970s: The Chicago Bears went 11-9 against the Green Bay Packers

No Championships Won in the Decade

All-Time Series Heading Into 1980: Bears Leading 65-50-6

• First Overtime Game (The Chester Marcol Game): September 7, 1980. The Packers won 12-6 at Lambeau Filed in Green Bay. In overtime, Packers kicker Chester Marcol had a field goal attempt blocked by the Bears’ Alan Page. However the ball deflected back to Marcol and he ran it in for a touchdown and the dramatic victory. Fantastic moment with one hell of a backstory, too. If you know, you know. The next Chicago game that year wouldn’t end so well for the Packers.
• Largest Bears Victory: December 7, 1980. The Bears beat the Packers 61-7 at Solider Field in Chicago. Then coach Bart Starr even ran across the field to confront Bears coach Neil Armstrong for continuing to blitz even in the game’s final minutes. Walter Payton scored three touchdowns and put up 141 total yards on the day.
• Only Season Without A Matchup Since 1922: 1982. The strike-shortened season kept the Packers from playing the Bears for the first time since 1922. Those years are the only seasons from 1921-Present day the two teams didn’t meet. This was also Mike Ditka’s first season as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
• George Halas’ Death: December 18, 1983. It was on that date during the 1983 season that George Halas passed away. The first Packers-Bears game in Chicago following Halas’ death, the Bears defeated Green Bay 23-21 and kept the Packers out of the playoffs. It was head coach Mike Ditka’s first win over the Packers, two weeks after he lost his first ever matchup with the Packers 31-28. In this game Lynn Dickey and Jim McMahon combined to throw six interceptions while Mike Singletary recorded a sack. Temperature: It was only 3 degrees for this game, one of the coldest games in the history of the rivalry.
• Both Teams Under 10 Points: September 16, 1984. Both the Packers and Bears ended the game with fewer than 10 points — it hasn’t happened since. Chicago won 9-7 at Lambeau Field by way of three field goals from Bob Thomas. The Hall of Fame offensive players played well, despite the score. Walter Payton had 139 yards for the Bears and James Lofton had 89 for the Packers.
• Payton to Suhey: December 9, 1984. The Packers would win the game 20-14 at Soldier Field. However one of the best highlights from the game was Walter Payton throwing a touchdown to his longtime fullback Matt Suhey. Payton would later run for a score, but two touchdown passes from Packers quarterback Rich Campbell ended up being the difference. Including a memorable heave to Phil Epps for the win with under a minute to play. A rare win for the Packers in this rivalry during the decade and the only win over the Bears of Forrest Gregg’s tenure as head coach. Green Bay’s Mike Douglass recorded three sacks while Chicago’s Richard Dent recorded two.
• The ’85 Bears: The 1985 Chicago Bears go 2-0 against the Packers during their 15-1 season en route to winning Super Bowl XX. The 1985 Bears remain, perhaps, the best defense in NFL history and one of the best teams of all-time. The Fridge: October 21, 1985. Defensive lineman William Perry scored his first career touchdown on Monday Night Football, at the direction of head coach Mike Ditka. Perry was then named “The Fridge” as the Bears won 23-7 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Horse Manure: November 3, 1985. The Packers left horse manure in the Bears’ locker room at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The strategy was ineffective; Chicago won the game 16-10. The Packers were up 10-7 in the fourth quarter, but Walter Payton scored the game-winning touchdown. Sweetness: Walter Payton ran for 100+ yards in both games against Green Bay, including his season high of 192 rushing yards. Two of the four best games of Payton’s career, in terms of rushing yards, came against the Packers.
• Charles Martin’s Hit List: November 23, 1986 Packers nose tackle Charles Martin displayed a “Hit List” of Bears players he wanted to knock out of the game (on a towel he played with). At least two full seconds after Bears quarterback Jim McMahon threw an interception during the game, Martin picked him up and illegally slammed him to the ground at Soldier Field in Chicago. This was a moment where the Packers truly crossed the line. McMahon would miss the rest of the season and the 14-2 Bears, heavily-favorited to repeat as Super Bowl Champions, would fail to make it back to the big game. Chicago’s Dan Hampton opened the scoring with a safety and it wouldn’t get better from there for the away team. The Bears won the game 12-10.
• Walter Payton’s Last TD: November 8, 1987. Bears win 26-24 as Walter Payton accounts for his 21st (and final) total touchdown against the Green Bay Packers. There were three lead changes in the fourth quarter, but Chicago’s Kevin Butler’s 52 yard field goal would seal the game. Payton’s 21 total touchdowns are the most by a player in the history of this rivalry (one was a passing score). He finished his career with 2,922 yards from scrimmage against the Packers, with his Bears earning a 17-7 record.
• First Team to 75 Wins: September 25, 1988. Led by Neal Anderson’s two touchdown runs the Bears defeat the Packers 24-6 at Lambeau Field. Chicago would earn their 75th win over the Packers at the time. For reference, Green Bay had just 55 wins in the series to this point.
• The Indomitable Bears: November 27, 1988. The 10-2 Bears took on the 2-10 Packers at Soldier Field. There were no passing touchdowns in the game, as Chicago’s defense smothered the Packers earning a 16-0 shutout. Neal Anderson ran for two touchdowns vs the Packers for the second consecutive game.
• Chicago’s 8-Game Winning Streak: The Bears wrap up their best ever winning streak over the Packers with that 16-0 win over the Packers in the 1988 season. It remains the longest winning streak the Bears have ever boasted over the Packers.
• “Instant Replay Game”: November 5, 1989. The Packers defeated the Bears 14-13 on a last-second touchdown pass from Don Majkowski to Sterling Sharpe. The play was originally called a touchdown, but the referee claimed Majkowski passed the line of scrimmage. The refs went to video replay to determine if the touchdown was legal and came to the conclusion that is was. Bears head coach Mike Ditka ordered that an asterisk be placed next to the game result on all team publications.
• Cold Game, Colder Team: December 17, 1989. The Chicago Bears dropped their fifth straight game of the 1989 season to the Packers in a game that featured a -7 degree wind chill. The loss ensured the Bears’ first losing record since 1981. Chicago’s Richard Dent intercepted Don Majkowski, but the ‘Magic Man’ would get the last laugh. His one touchdown pass and two touchdown runs led the Packers to a 40-28 victory.
• Bart Starr Award: 1991. Mike Singletary, linebacker of the Chicago Bears, wins the Bart Starr Award. The annual award honors the NFL player who, “Best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.” The award was created in 1989 and this was the first time a Packer or Bear won it.

The 1980s: The Chicago Bears went 11-7 against the Green Bay Packers

Bears Championships: 1985

All-Time Series Heading Into 1990: Bears Leading 76-57-6

• Packers Outmatched: October 7, 1990. For the second time in the 1990 season the Packers draw first blood by scoring first against the Bears. And for the second time the Bears would go on to win by at least two touchdowns. In this game Don Majkowski hit Sterling Sharpe for a 76 yard touchdown pass. However Neal Anderson’s big day (170 total yards and a score) proved too much for the Packers — again.
• Bears Match Their Largest Lead in the All-Time Series: October 25, 1992. Chicago beats Green Bay 30-10 and extends their all-time series lead over Packers to 24 games (matching the Bears’ 24 game lead they carried into the month of December in 1960). This is the widest the chasm in the all-time series would be, perhaps ever.
• Enter Brett Favre: 1992. Brett Favre’s arrival into this rivalry would change the course of history from this moment on. The single most defining moment/player in the history of the rivalry.
• Packers Begin to Turn the Tide: November 22, 1992. Packers defeat the Bears 17-3 and kick off what would eventually become the greatest comeback in the history of sport. This Packers win would be one of the moments that kicked off the Packers’ unlikely comeback in the all-time series. Of course this was only realized in retrospect. For our money, the rivalry really began to so shift the next season.
• Reggie White Enters the Rivalry: October 31, 1993. In Reggie White’s first game against the Bears as a Packer, a 17-3 win for Green Bay, he introduced himself with a two sack performance. LeRoy Butler put up a sack and an interception while Brett Favre threw a touchdown to Sterling Sharpe in the game. The tide of the rivalry really started to turn with this game. No one knew it at the time, but what a monumental game.
• Bears Win Without an Offensive Touchdown: December 5, 1993. Chicago beat Green Bay 30-17 despite not scoring an offensive touchdown. The Bears returned two interceptions and fumble for a touchdown on the day. Both teams were 7-5 following the game.
• Favre’s Heroics and Spoiling Butkus and Sayers’ Night: October 31, 1994. Packers quarterback Brett Favre played with a hurt hip, but led the Packers to a 33-6 blowout over the Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago in the rain. His rushing touchdown remains a memorable moment from the game. This win kicked off a 10-game winning streak for the Packers over the Bears. His Iron Man legend begins to grow. At halftime of this Monday Night Football game at Soldier Field the Bears honored Gale Sayers and Dick Butkus by retiring their numbers. The Bears would get revenge on Favre when his number was retired at Lambeau Field in 2015.
• Robert Brooks on Monday Night Football: September 11, 1995. Robert Brooks caught two touchdowns for the Packers, including an NFL record 99-yard touchdown catch. The game, at Soldier Field on Monday Night Football, saw the Packers get out to a 21-0 lead. The Bears wouldn’t stay down, thanks to Rashaan Salaam’s two touchdowns, but ended up losing 27-24.
• Favre’s Heroics Part II: November 12, 1995. Brett Favre played with a severely sprained ankle, in a game with a division lead on the line, and threw five touchdown passes in a 35-28 win at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Iron Man legends grows larger. Some would argue this launched game his first AP MVP campaign, an award he’d win three years in a row (the first and only player to ever do so in NFL history).
• 1996 Packers: Green Bay goes 2-0 against the Chicago Bears en route to a Super Bowl championship led by Brett Favre and Reggie White. Favre was in the middle of three straight AP MVP Awards. Former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, infamously, wore a Bears jersey when the Packers visited the White House. One of the Best Teams Ever: This team had the league’s top rated offense and defense in the same season. Therefore, it remains one of the best teams in league history.
• Packers’ Kick-Off Repeat Quest: September 1, 1997. The Packers begin their title defense at home against the Bears on Monday Night Football. Despite having no receivers or backs with hit the 100 yard mark in the game, they still won 38-24. Fan-favorite nose tackle Gilbert Brown had a sack on the day.
• Chicago’s Bravery Isn’t Rewarded: October 12, 1997. The Packers came into the game with a 4-2 record, while the Bears sat at 0-6. Brett Favre threw three touchdowns before the Bears scored late to get down by one. Instead of kicking an extra point for overtime, they went for a two-point conversion. The attempt failed however and the Packers won 24-23.
• Green Bay’s 10-Game Winning Streak: December 27, 1998. The Packers push their best ever winning streak within the rivalry to 10 games by the end of the ’98 season following a 16-13 win in Chicago. Brett Favre didn’t have a great game, throwing one touchdown to Antonio Freeman and two interceptions, but Green Bay’s defense was stout. At this point in time, Brett Favre is public enemy number one in Chicago. He might as well have been the opposite of Michael Jordan in Chicagoland at the time.
• Walter Payton’s Ghost: November 7, 1999. In the game following Walter Payton’s death, on a day when Brett Favre set an NFL record for consecutive starts for a quarterback, the Bears won after Bryan Robinson blocked a last-second chip shot 28-yard field goal — who claimed Payton lifted him up. The Packers honored Walter Payton before the game on the loudspeaker. “Sweetness, thank you for touching us all” rang out over Lambeau Field. Was it Payton’s last bit of revenge over Green Bay? Some think so. Maybe us, too.

The 1990s: The Green Bay Packers went 13-7 against the Chicago Bears

Packers Championships: 1996

All-Time Series Heading Into 2000: Bears Leading 83-70-6

• Packers’ Comeback Falls Just Short: October 1, 2000. The Bears got up 24-3 over the Packers on the strength of three total touchdowns from quarterback Cade McNown. But then the Packers, and Brett Favre, woke up. He threw three touchdowns in the final 18 minutes of the game (one to Antonio Freeman, two to Bill Schroeder). Alas, it wasn’t enough.
• Both Teams With Losing Records: December 3, 2000. The Packers and Bears faced off in a rare ‘both teams with a losing record in December’ matchup. A matchup such as this wouldn’t happen for another 22 years. The Packers won 28-6 at Soldier Field on the strength of two Ahman Green touchdowns.
• Brian Urlacher Enters the Rivalry: December 9, 2001. Second-year middle linebacker Urlacher, in the midst of his first First Team All-Pro season, nabs the first of his six career interceptions against the Packers. Urlacher did all he could recording an interception, a sack, one pass defended and 11 tackles in a 17-7 Packers win. Despite the loss, he let the Packers know he’d be around for awhile. Astonishingly, 25% of Urlacher’s career interceptions (including the postseason) came against the Packers (6 of 24).
• Game in Champaign, IL: October 7, 2002. The first and only time the Packers have ever played the Bears on the road, but not in the city of Chicago (during Soldier Field’s renovations). Packers won 34-21.
• High Scoring Stretch: 2002-2003. All four games played between these teams in this two-season stretch saw a combined 50+ points scored in each game — the first time in the history of the rivalry. Although it would later be matched in a four game stretch from 2013-2015.
• Ahman Green’s Big First Quarter: September 29, 2003. Ahman Green kicked off the game with a 60 yard touchdown run. He’d run in another score to put the Packers up 17-0 in the first quarter. He’d finish the game with 176 yards on just 19 carries. Green Bay won 38-23. Appropriately, 2003 was the best season of Green’s career. The Packers would beat the Bears later in the season, too, extending their winning streak to seven games (where it would end).
• Lovie Smith’s First Press Conference:  2004. In his first press conference as head coach of the Chicago Bears Smith said, “The number one goal is to beat Green Bay.” Winning a Super Bowl wasn’t the number one goal. That tells you everything you need to know about this rivalry.
• Not A Christmas Miracle for the Packers: December 25, 2005. Brett Favre went “full-Favre” as the Bears picked him off four times. Chris Harris had two, Peanut Tillman had one, and with the game still in the balance, Lance Briggs returned one for a touchdown and the rout was on. An 85 yard punt return by Antonio Chatman wasn’t enough for the Packers to come back. Bears won 24-17.
• The Latest Shutout in the Series: September 10, 2006. In Packers head coach Mike McCarthy’s first game, and first game against Chicago, the Packers are blanked 26-0 by the Bears. Bears Special Teams: Chicago’s kicker Robbie Gould scored 14 points and Devin Hester returned a punt for a touchdown in the game in his first NFL game. What a debut by him. There hasn’t been a shutout in this rivalry since.
• The Primetime Rivalry: December 31, 2006. This Sunday Night Football game between the Packers and Bears kicked off a stretch of consecutive seasons with at least one primetime game between these two rivals that exists to the present day. Meaning, these teams have played a primetime game in each of the last 16 seasons. This shows an incredible respect from the NFL’s schedule-makers, but also how many people tune in when these two teams play (regardless of record).
• Favre’s Last Game Against Chicago as a Packer: December 23, 2007. For the last time Brett Favre stepped foot into Soldier Field as a Green Bay Packer. The Bears won 35-7 as Favre threw for no touchdowns and two interceptions, including a fourth quarter 85-yard pick-six by Brian Urlacher.
• Rodgers’ First Game Against Chicago: November 16, 2008. First year starter Aaron Rodgers’ Packers hosted the Bears for the first time in his starting career. The Packers won 37-3 throwing for two touchdowns and one interception.
• Coldest Game in Chicago: December 22, 2008. Appropriately the Packers were in Chicago for the coldest game in Bears history (2 degrees). Chicago won 20-17 on an overtime game-winning kick by Robbie Gould. The scoring was kicked off by an Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. It was Matt Forte’s fourth quarter touchdown run that sent the game to overtime.
• Jay Cutler’s Least Favorite Day: September 13, 2009. Jay Cutler throws for one touchdown and four interceptions in a 21-15 loss. Interestingly enough, this wouldn’t be the last one touchdown, four interception day, and loss, for Cutler against the Packers on a September 13th. He’d do it again in 2013.

The 2000s: The Green Bay Packers went 12-8 against the Chicago Bears

No Championships Won in the Decade

All-Time Series Heading Into 2010: Bears Leading 91-81-6

• 2010 Packers: September 27, 2010. Green Bay lost its first matchup with the Chicago Bears of the 2010 season. In the game Devin Hester returned a punt for a touchdown for the Bears and James Jones had a costly fumble for the Packers. Chicago kicker Robbie Gould kicked a game-winning field goal. Next game: January 2, 2011. In Week 17 the two teams matched up again. The Bears already had the NFC North crown locked up and rested some starters as the Packers won 10-3. Big mistake. This allowed the Packers to sneak into the postseason as a wildcard team. This wouldn’t be the last time these two teams met that season.
• Conference Championship Game: January 23, 2011. This was the second time in the history of the rivalry these two teams met in the postseason. The Packers won 21-14 on the road at Soldier Field in Chicago, en route to winning Super Bowl XLV (just the second playoff game in rivalry’s history). Big Plays: Aaron Rodgers’ tackle of Brian Urlacher after throwing an interception; Aaron Rodgers’ running touchdown on a naked bootleg; B.J. Raji’s interception returned for a touchdown — which he then deemed himself “The Freezer” a nod to William Perry of the ’85 Bears.
• Christmas Day: December 25, 2011. The Packers beat the Bears 35-21, avenging their previous Christmas Day loss to the Bears in 2005 (24-17 Chicago). These are the only two times these two teams have played on Christmas.
• “Same-old Jay”: September 12, 2012. The Packers defeated the Bears 23-10 and Charles Woodson unleashed some brutal trash-talk following the game. He was quoted as saying, “It’s the same-old Jay… Jay will throw us the ball” when asked about defender Jay Cutler. The Bears quarterback threw four interceptions in the loss. Cutler threw 22 interceptions in 13 career games against the Packers.
• Charles “Peanut” Tillman’s All-Pro season: 2012. Tillman put together such an incredible season that it deserves recognition. His 10 forced-fumbles and three defensive touchdowns both led the league. Two of his forced-fumbles came against the Packers, one in each game.
• Matt Forte Helps Bears Snap Losing Streak: November 4, 2013. The Packers had won six straight games over the Bears until Aaron Rodgers was injured in this game. Seneca Wallace came in, but the Bears, led by Matt Forte’s 179 total yards and one score, won 27-20 at Lambeau Field.
• 4th and 8 Game: December 29, 2013. Aaron Rodgers came back from injury (sustained nearly two months earlier against the Bears) to lead the Packers to a dramatic 33-28 victory over the Bears, in Chicago at Soldier Field. The winner of that game was to be crowned NFC North Champions as well as playoff bound — with the Packers down by one point, Rodgers threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb with on fourth and 8 with just .38 seconds left on the clock. John Kuhn’s block on Julius Peppers on the play remains legendary. Bear Killer: This was the genesis of Cobb becoming known as the ‘Bear Killer’ but it wouldn’t be the last time he broke the hearts of Chicagoans. His nine touchdowns against the Bears are the most he has against any team. Matt Forte: A three touchdown game from Forte, a perpetually underrated talent, wasn’t enough to defeat the Packers.
• Rodgers’ First Half: November 9, 2014. Aaron Rodgers ties an NFL record by throwing for six touchdowns in the first half of a 55-14 victory over the Bears at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Perhaps the best half in NFL history for a quarterback, the game was 42-0 by halftime.
• Bart Starr Award – to a Packer: 2014. Aaron Rodgers wins the Bart Starr Award, the first Packer to win the award. It was previously won by Mike Singletary in 1991 (listed on this timeline). Other winners include Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, Cris Carter, Reggie White (Eagles) and Drew Brees among others.
• Bears Spoil Favre’s Party: November 26, 2015. Brett Favre came back to Green Bay to see his retired No. 4 unveiled at Lambeau Field. Bart Starr, despite battling numerous health concerns, made it back for the halftime ceremony. The Bears won the game 17-13, a notable upset. The game was on Thanksgiving, the first ever Thanksgiving game at Lambeau Field and the first Thanksgiving matchup between these ancient foes.
• All-Time Series is Finally Tied-Up: December 18, 2016. The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears to even-up the legendary rivalry. Mason Crosby kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired after Aaron Rodgers completed a 60-yard pass to Jordy Nelson on third and 11, with less than thirty seconds left in the game. The completion was Rodgers’ longest of the season. It was just 11 degrees at kickoff, a classic Packers-Bears bout with massive implications.
• Packers Take Back the Lead in the All-Time Series: September 28, 2017. Aaron Rodgers thew four touchdown passes en route to a 35-14 win in front of the home crowd at Lambeau Field. When the final whistle blew, the Packers had their first lead in the rivalry since 1932 — a moment 85 years in the making.
• Largest Fourth Quarter Comeback in Packers History: September 9, 2018. To kickoff the Packers’ 2018 season in (the team’s 100th season) Aaron Rodgers came back from an injury in the second half (that he was carted off the field for in the first half) to lead the Packers back from a 20 point deficit and 17 point fourth quarter deficit. Randall Cobb caught the game-winning 75 yard touchdown pass, the third touchdown of the second half for Rodgers. Newly signed edge rusher Khalil Mack dominated the first half, Rodgers dominated the second. Matt Nagy’s first game as Chicago’s head coach was a loss. It was later revealed Rodgers’ injury was a fractured leg, which he played the season on. Randall Cobb: It should be pointed out that Cobb particularly haunted the Bears. He caught nine, often heart-breaking, touchdowns against the Bears while with the Packers (which was 22% of his total touchdowns in Green Bay at the time). This game resulted in the “It’s Randall Cobb Again!” video and subsequent memes.
• Bears Win the North: December 16, 2018. The Chicago Bears knock the Packers out of playoff contention as they won 24-17. The undisputed highlight of the Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky era in Chicago. Khalil Mack recorded two sacks.
• Packers and Bears kick off the NFL’s 100th Season: September 5, 2019. The NFL’s centennial season was started in a matchup of the oldest rivalry in professional football (instead of letting the defending champion Patriots host the season opening game per usual). The NFL understood the importance of their 100th season and the importance of this rivalry on that history. The league choosing Packers/Bears to showcase their sport to kick off the 100th season shows you how important this rivalry truly is. The game was won 10-3 by the Packers in sloppy, or perhaps throwback, effort. New Packers coach Matt LaFleur won his first game as head coach, the first to win his debut against the Bears since Vince Lombardi.
• Packers and Bears’ 200th All-Time Matchup: December 15, 2019. Green Bay beat Chicago 21-13. By the end of that day the Packers had clinched a playoff spot and the Bears had been eliminated from playoff contention.
• Domination by the Packers: The 2010s were the most dominant period in the rivalry for either team, as the Packers were +13 wins in this decade. This was the decade the Bears lost their all-time lead in the series. The 1940s Bears were the second most dominant period in the history of the rivalry.

The 2010s: The Green Bay Packers went 17-4 against the Chicago Bears

Packers Championships: 2010

All-Time Series Heading Into 2020: Packers Leading 99-95-6

• Shift in the Rivalry: 2020. This was the first decade in the history of the rivalry to begin with the Packers leading the all-time series.
• First Team to 100 Wins Against the Other: November 29, 2020. The Packers best the Bears 41-25 at Lambeau Field securing their 100th win against their rival to the south. Green Bay took a 100-95-6 lead in the all-time series, which is also the largest lead the Packers have ever had in the series (Bears have had two 24 game leads throughout the history of this rivalry). After the game Aaron Rodgers was quoted as saying, “It’s special to be a part of this rivalry” and also, “I love beating Chicago.” This was, obviously, the first game between these teams with relatively empty stands due to COVID-19.
• 200th Regular Season Meeting: January 3, 2021. The Packers defeated the Bears, securing the NFC’s No. 1 seed along the way mostly due to Aaron Rodgers’ four touchdown passes — perhaps securing his third AP MVP Award. This was the first Packers-Bears matchup at Solider Field since the passing of iconic Bear Gale Sayers, where he was honored. It was also the 200th regular season meeting between these teams.
• “I own you” and the 100th Anniversary Meeting: October 17, 2021: Green Bay marches into Solider Field for Justin Fields’ first Packers-Bears game with the top spot in the division on the line. This game took place nearly 100 years after the first ever matchup between these two teams (1921). Aaron Rodgers, after running for the game-sealing touchdown, delivered an all-time great quote directed at angry Chicago fans, “I’ve owned you all my fucking life. I own you. I still own you!” Green Bay won 24-14. After the game he was asked if this was his final game at Soldier Field as a Packer. He replied, “I don’t think this is my last one, but I’ve enjoyed every single one of them.” With a 22-5 record against the Bears (at the time) all-time? I’m sure he has.
• 400th Game at Lambeau Field: December 12, 2021: Aaron Rodgers’ started his 100th career NFL game in the 400th all-time game at Lambeau Field (on Sunday Night Football). The Bears got up 10-0, but lost 45-30 to the Packers. The 75 point total is the second-highest scoring game in the history of the rivalry. The second quarter saw 45 total points scored, the most points in a quarter in the history of the series. With this win Matt LaFleur became the first coach in Packers history to win 10+ games in each of his first three seasons. Aaron Rodgers: On a broken toe, Rodgers threw four TDs and zero interceptions (for the 7th time against the Bears; the most against one team in league history) after Robert Quinn mocked his championship belt celebration. Paul Tagliabue: The former NFL Commissioner (1989-2006) was honored at halftime, receiving his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence. Great to see him choose this rivalry and venue for such an honor.
• Chicago is Going to “Take Back the North” from Green Bay: January 31, 2022: Newly hired Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles said, “We’re going to take the North and never give it back.” Sounds like he’s focused more on defeating the Packers than winning championships. This was also the same week that the Packers’ quarterback coach Luke Getsy was hired as offensive coordinator for the Bears. Meanwhile in Green Bay, they responded by promoting Luke Butkus (Dick Butkus’ nephew) to offensive line coach. Wild times. Justin Fields’ Comments: July 28, 2022: On Bears All Access Justin Fields said, “I want a Super Bowl. That’s all I care about, and I want to beat the Green Bay Packers.” Seems like the Super Bowl isn’t all he cares about after all. We’d say that’s good for the rivalry moving forward. Love his confidence.
• Jaire Alexander Speaks: 2022. Heading into the Packers and Bears’ Week Two matchup Jaire Alexander talked to Ryan Wood about facing the Bears. “It’s fun. It’s exciting,” Alexander says. “I always say, ‘Things could be a lot worse. I could be a Bears fan.’” Fighting words, we love it.
• Rodgers Officially Becomes the Bears’ Owner: September 18, 2022. The Packers defeat the Bears 27-10 on Sunday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers passes Brett Favre for the most individual wins over the Chicago Bears in NFL history (including the postseason and Favre’s time in Minnesota). Aaron Jones’ 170 total yards and two touchdowns led the way. Postgame Comments: Immediately following the game Rodgers was asked what it is about this rivalry that brings out the best in him. He said, “I love history. It’s a long history of games between these two teams. Now we’ve won 104 times against them.” The interviewer interjected, “not that you’re counting.” He continued, “No, I think everybody in Green Bay is counting, for sure.” Aaron’s right, we sure are.
• The NFL’s Two Winningest Franchises – History on the line: December 4, 2022. The Chicago Bears have been the NFL’s all-time winningest franchise since 1921 (the longest held record in NFL history). The Packers entered the game with the chance to surpass the Bears in all-time wins and become the winningest franchise. Quite appropriate for these two teams to be facing one another with this monumental record on the line. Both Teams with Losing Records: As fate would have it, this is the first time since December 3, 2000 that both teams had losing records in a matchup this late in the season. New Winningest NFL Team: The Packers won this matchup, at Soldier Field, despite trailing 19-10 in the fourth quarter. Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson scored twice which gave him eight touchdowns in his last four games played. Aaron Rodgers saluted the Chicago crowd, perhaps for the final time. He led another comeback win over the Bears, this time while battling a broken thumb and a rib injury. Warrior. The Packers won their 787th regular season game, the most by any team in NFL history. The Bears, at this moment, are in second place with 786 wins. Winning Streak: This was the Packers’ eighth straight win over the Bears. That’s the second time the Packers have won 8+ straight games over the Bears (the third time either team has won at least eight straight against each other0. 12/4: Appropriately, the Packers passed the Bears for most all-time wins in NFL history on December 4, 2022 — or 12/4. Those are, obviously, the numbers of the two players most responsible for the Packers’ comeback in taking the all-time win crown from the Bears (Favre and Rodgers). Sometimes fate just wins. A Bear Speaks: Rookie safety Jaquan Brisker said, “That’s the last one, for awhile.” following the game. We’ll see.
• Brisker Speaks Again: Leading up to 2023 season opener Jaquan Brisker had some more thoughts to share, saying, “People hate Green Bay. I hate Green Bay.”
• 25th All-Time Packers-Bears Season Opener: September 10, 2023. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears meet in the season opener for the 25th time in the history of the rivalry. The NFL clearly loves when these two franchises kickoff the season. A New Era – Enter Jordan Love: Jordan Love made his first start against the Bears — and his first start since taking over as the Packers’ starting quarterback. He threw for three touchdowns and zero interceptions, leading Green Bay to a 38-20 victory at Solider Field. The Packers’ current domination of the Bears continued as their winning streak, despite switching quarterbacks, reached nine games. Which is the second longest winning streak in the history of the rivalry.
• Season Finale – Win and In: January 7, 2024. Jordan Love, in his first years as the Packers’ starter brought the Packers to the brink of the playoffs. The Chicago Bears come to Lambeau Field as the final hurdle for the Packers’ postseason hopes. Justin Fields, the Bears’ quarterback, is seemingly playing for his job. If the Packers win, they make the postseason in the first year without Aaron Rodgers at the helm, despite being the youngest team in the league.

The 2020s: Thus far, the Green Bay Packers have gone 7-0 against the Chicago Bears this decade

No Championships Won in the Decade… Yet

All-Time Series At The Moment: Packers leading 106-95-6

The Packers are riding an eight-game winning streak against the Bears. And this is the first time the Packers have owned a 10-game lead in the series.

What will come next?

Well, that’s the beautiful mystery of rivalries as rich in history as this. One thing you can count on it that the Chicago Bears will be looking to punch back over the next decade.

Can they?

Will Justin Fields be able to stop the bleeding?

The Packers’ sustained success, and absolute demolishing of the Bears, over the last three decades has been incredible. But it seems like it cannot keep going like this forever. Tides always change.

However the Bears still suck, so anything is possible.

We kid. The respect for the Bears as the brother to the Packers will always remain, but that doesn’t mean we won’t make jokes. And we expect nothing less the next time the Bears find themselves with the momentum in the rivalry.

We hope you enjoyed this timeline of events for this rivalry!

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears rivalry is our favorite rivalry in all of sports. And once again, we have to reiterate, as much as we hate the Bears we respect the history of the organization and wish their fans well.

There are numerous Bears fans in our family (and friend groups) and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

You simply don’t have the Packers without the Bears and you don’t have the Bears without the Packers. And you might not have the NFL without each of these teams, either.

That’s the crux of this beautiful, ancient, ever-evolving rivalry.

Some further context:

Bart Starr’s Record Against the Bears: 15-5

Brett Favre’s Record Against the Bears: 22-10*

Aaron Rodgers’ Record Against the Bears: 25-5 (Including Postseason)

That’s 62 wins by these three quarterbacks for the Packers in this rivalry (59% of the Packers’ wins against the Bears all-time).

*Favre did defeat the Bears once as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, but that win is not included here.

Jordan Love is now 1-0 against the Bears!

Go Pack Go!