The rivalry is renewed this Sunday.
Growing up in England, I did not know much about American football, let alone the Midwest’s greatest sporting rivalry.
My world revolved around the World Cup, Champions League, FA Cup, and everything in between.
When I started following the NFL in my later teens, one game stood out above all others.
The Chicago Bears versus Green Bay Packers rivalry immediately captured my attention.
What hooked me was not just the clash on the field, it was the weight of history and passion these teams carry every time they meet.
The Bears and Packers are not just rivals; they are a living, breathing piece of Americana.
As an outsider initially, I was fascinated by how much this rivalry meant. Not just to fans in Chicago and Green Bay but to the entire league.
A large swathe of my own family lives in Illinois and are passionate Bears fans. Through them, I came to understand just how deeply this rivalry resonated.
Then, in a shocking act of betrayal on my part, I chose to follow the ‘Green and Gold’ – I was drawn to them.
This rivalry goes back over 100 years, and you can feel that history in every snap.
It is Lombardi versus Halas, icy Lambeau winters against gritty Soldier Field mud.
It is the Packers being owned by their fans and the Bears symbolizing a great sporting city that prides itself on resilience.
‘I own you!’
These games are not just matchups; they are chapters in a story older than the NFL itself.
I cannot help but smirk as this fabled rivalry has tilted in Green Bay’s favour in recent years.
One man, Aaron Rodgers, has all but made the rivalry his own.
When he screamed, “I own you!” – paraphrasing to keep this ‘PG’ – at Bears fans after a touchdown at Soldier Field, I sat on my couch, mouth agape.
Fist in the air, I mouthed along.
Watching Rodgers dismantle the Bears time and again, you almost feel sorry for Chicago fans. Almost!
But that is the beauty of this rivalry—it is about hope as much as history.
Bears fans do not just watch these games; they live them.
Every time they play the Packers, there is a belief that this could be the game where things change.
For me, from across the pond, it has been incredible to witness. It is a window into the heart of American sport, where rivalries are about pride, identity, and legacy.
One day, unfortunately, the Bears will possibly turn the tide. Perhaps Caleb Williams will be the man to make it happen?
Until then, the Packers’ dominance is just another chapter in this extraordinary tale.
