The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears have one of the most storied rivalries in professional sports. Not only do Packers fans despise the Bears and Bears fans despise the Packers, but former players from both teams weigh in on social media to fuel the fire.
Prior to the Packers’ Week One game in Chicago this year, Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus (may he rest in peace) tweeted a photo of himself on the field with the caption, “Someone get some pads and a quarterback to tackle.”
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Of course, former players aren’t the only ones who feel this way about the rivalry. After scoring a rushing touchdown against the Chicago Bears, Aaron Rodgers told the crowd, “I still own you.”
In other words, not only do the fans dislike their rival team, but the players, both current and former, are also completely sold on it.
Jace Sternberger, a former Green Bay Packers tight end, mocks Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields on social media.
Of course, over the last 30 years, the rivalry has been rather one-sided. Green Bay has gone 48-15 against Chicago since 1992, the year Brett Favre took over at quarterback for the Packers. During his time in Green Bay, Rodgers was 24-5 against them.
When the Packers traded Rodgers to the New York Jets in the offseason, many Bears fans and players saw this season as a chance to turn the tide in the rivalry. “We’re coming for the North,” Chicago quarterback Justin Fields was quoted as saying, referring to the NFC North division.
It was a bold statement for the young quarterback, especially given that Chicago’s most recent victory, an improbable and boring road victory over the Minnesota Vikings, was only his second in his career against an NFC North team. He is now 2-11 against his division’s other teams.
Fields, of course, is a highly mobile quarterback who his detractors frequently refer to as a running back. Former Packers tight end Jace Sternberger joined the chorus of critics when he responded to a video of Fields tearing up the Miami Dolphins last season:
Forte last played for the Bears in 2015 before joining the Jets. With 9,796 yards rushing, he currently ranks 33rd all-time in the NFL.
Sternberger, a former Packers third-round pick who played for the team for two seasons, recently re-signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the USFL. He had 33 receptions for 517 yards and seven touchdowns with the Stallions last season. Last season, Birmingham won the league championship for the second year in a row.
Sternberger participated in Buffalo Bills training camp this summer but did not make the 53-man roster.
Sternberger appears to be invested in the rivalry despite not being an active Packers player for nearly three years.
