Bears players are born to dislike the Packers, whether they grow up with the rivalry or not. For some, like Bears tight end Cole Kmet, the intensity of the matchup is a familiar feeling. His sister Frankie, dating Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness, has been a point of contention between them.
Kmet joked about sending her tickets to the game without responding to anything else, preferring that she wouldn't ask him about his favorite team. His reasoning was that the Packers fans wanted better seats than those given to visiting players. The sibling rivalry runs deep, with Kmet's sister seemingly more supportive of her partner than her brother.
However, for others, like Jayden Reed and DJ Moore, the rivalry is a bit more complicated. Reed, born in Chicago and raised in Aurora, initially grew up admiring his fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Devin Hester. His favorite player was another legendary return specialist, Walter Payton. The Packers took him in the second round of the 2023 draft, changing everything.
"We're going to be there, believe me," Reed said about their upcoming game. Despite being part of a team that once represented his hometown, he still feels a connection to Chicago and the Bears.
The rivalry has been building for decades. The teams first met in 1921 when the Packers joined the American Pro Football Association. Over time, familiarity bred discontent. Familiarity also led the current players not to grow up with the rivalry. But with training camp comes an education about the heated history of this relationship.
Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett expressed his enthusiasm for the matchup. The rivalry is what makes it great, he said. Two games that went all the way down to the last play have two fan bases and locker rooms that don't care too much for each other.
Some players are born into this kind of rivalry. Jayden Reed can attest to that. However, others were once part of the opposing team before finding their way back home.
For Bears defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, being drafted by the Packers came with an unexpected twist. He was cut from the team and eventually claimed by Chicago in December. Knowing his way around Lambeau Field, he feels like he's gained a deeper understanding of the rivalry.
This match-up will be memorable, and some might even say epic. The intensity of this particular rival is unlike any other, according to Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. The rivalry makes it special.
The history runs deep, with roots that date back decades. This season has been marked by a series of last-second heroic plays between the two teams. For Kmet and Van Ness, their sister's boyfriend will be right in his face as they clash on the field.
Ultimately, Bears players are indeed born to dislike Packers fans - or is it the other way around?
Kmet joked about sending her tickets to the game without responding to anything else, preferring that she wouldn't ask him about his favorite team. His reasoning was that the Packers fans wanted better seats than those given to visiting players. The sibling rivalry runs deep, with Kmet's sister seemingly more supportive of her partner than her brother.
However, for others, like Jayden Reed and DJ Moore, the rivalry is a bit more complicated. Reed, born in Chicago and raised in Aurora, initially grew up admiring his fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer Devin Hester. His favorite player was another legendary return specialist, Walter Payton. The Packers took him in the second round of the 2023 draft, changing everything.
"We're going to be there, believe me," Reed said about their upcoming game. Despite being part of a team that once represented his hometown, he still feels a connection to Chicago and the Bears.
The rivalry has been building for decades. The teams first met in 1921 when the Packers joined the American Pro Football Association. Over time, familiarity bred discontent. Familiarity also led the current players not to grow up with the rivalry. But with training camp comes an education about the heated history of this relationship.
Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett expressed his enthusiasm for the matchup. The rivalry is what makes it great, he said. Two games that went all the way down to the last play have two fan bases and locker rooms that don't care too much for each other.
Some players are born into this kind of rivalry. Jayden Reed can attest to that. However, others were once part of the opposing team before finding their way back home.
For Bears defensive tackle Jonathan Ford, being drafted by the Packers came with an unexpected twist. He was cut from the team and eventually claimed by Chicago in December. Knowing his way around Lambeau Field, he feels like he's gained a deeper understanding of the rivalry.
This match-up will be memorable, and some might even say epic. The intensity of this particular rival is unlike any other, according to Bears safety Jaquan Brisker. The rivalry makes it special.
The history runs deep, with roots that date back decades. This season has been marked by a series of last-second heroic plays between the two teams. For Kmet and Van Ness, their sister's boyfriend will be right in his face as they clash on the field.
Ultimately, Bears players are indeed born to dislike Packers fans - or is it the other way around?