There’s a reason the Bears-Packers rivalry is the NFL’s oldest — it’s never just a game. For a century, these two franchises have defined football’s identity, and this article breaks down the head-to-head record, ownership contrast, fan dynamics, and the moments — including Aaron Rodgers’ “I still own you” and the 2026 playoff shock — that make this rivalry unlike any other.
All-time series record: Packers lead 109-98-6 · Last meeting score: Bears 31-27 (Jan 10, 2026 Wild Card) · NFL championships (pre-Super Bowl era): Bears 9, Packers 13 · Playoff meetings: Bears lead 2-1 · Fan ownership model: Packers only publicly owned NFL team
Quick snapshot
- Packers lead series 109-98-6 (The Football Database)
- Bears owned by McCaskey family (net worth >$1B) (Chicago Tribune)
- Packers only publicly owned NFL team (Chicago Tribune) (The Football Database)
- Exact size of each fan base (estimates vary)
- Aaron Rodgers’ actual IQ (no verified public test)
- Terry Bradshaw’s exact words (transcription unverified)
- Whether the Bears’ net worth includes all McCaskey family assets
- Bears 31-27 playoff win on Jan 10, 2026 snapped 10-game losing streak (Chicago Tribune)
- Only third postseason meeting between the franchises (Sports Illustrated) (Chicago Tribune)
- The rivalry continues with annual NFC North matchups
- Both teams expected to contend for division title in 2026
Six key facts, one takeaway: the Bears-Packers rivalry is defined by contrasting ownership models and a nearly dead-even playoff history.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| First meeting | 1921 (Bears won 20-0) |
| Overall series | Packers lead 109-98-6 |
| Playoff record | Bears lead 2-1 |
| Most recent meeting | Bears 31-27, Jan 10, 2026 (Wild Card) |
| Fan ownership | Packers only publicly owned NFL team |
| Bears owners | McCaskey family (net worth >$1B) |
Who Is Better, the Green Bay Packers or the Chicago Bears?
Head-to-head record analysis
The Packers lead the all-time series 109-98-6 across 213 meetings, according to The Football Database (statistics archive). However, the Bears hold a 2-1 edge in the three postseason matchups, including the most recent 31-27 Wild Card win on January 10, 2026. The Chicago Tribune notes that the rivalry includes 210 regular-season contests plus those two playoff clashes before 2026.
Championships and accolades
- Green Bay has 13 pre-Super Bowl NFL championships and 4 Super Bowl titles (SB I, II, XXXI, XLV).
- Chicago has 9 pre-Super Bowl NFL championships and 1 Super Bowl title (SB XX).
Chicago Tribune confirms both teams are the two oldest in the NFL still operating, making the championship count a reflection of century-long excellence.
Recent performance and trends
From 2019 through 2025, the Packers won 10 consecutive games against the Bears. The 2026 Wild Card loss broke that streak. Sports Illustrated (NFL analysis) called it a turning point for the rivalry, noting that only one loss before 2026 had prevented the Bears from having a real postseason edge over Green Bay.
The 2026 Bears win didn’t change the all-time series — but it changed the narrative. The Bills have a stronger recent history, but the Bears now have hope. For the Packers, the 2026 loss ended a decade of dominance and exposed questions about their postseason ceiling.
What Is the History of the Bears-Packers Rivalry?
Origins and early years (1920s-1940s)
The first meeting occurred on November 27, 1921, when the Packers lost 20-0 to the Chicago Staleys (later Bears). Sports Illustrated dates the rivalry to that game. Both teams were founded in the early 1920s — the Bears as the Decatur Staleys in 1919, the Packers in 1919 — making this the NFL’s oldest continuous rivalry.
Note: The rivalry’s first seed was planted in 1921, but the roots go back to the founding of both franchises in 1919.
The Halas vs Lambeau era
George Halas and Curly Lambeau, the founding coaches, built the rivalry’s intensity. The 1930s and 1940s saw the Packers win five of six meetings at one point, then the Bears retaliate with a 10-game win streak. By the time Lambeau left Green Bay, the Packers had more championships, but the Bears had more victories head-to-head. Chicago Tribune covers this period in depth.
The modern rivalry (1990s-present)
Brett Favre (1992-2007) re-energized Green Bay, winning Super Bowl XXXI and going 22-10 against Chicago in the regular season. Aaron Rodgers (2008-2022) took it further, going 22-5 against the Bears according to ESPN (sports broadcaster). The 2026 playoff win by Chicago, led by Caleb Williams, marked the first Bears postseason win over Green Bay since 1991.
Who Has More Fans, Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers?
Fan base size estimates
No definitive data exists, but the Packers consistently rank in the top 10 in national fan polls, while the Bears dominate a concentrated Chicago market. The Packers’ unique stock ownership program — the only one in major U.S. sports — turns fans into shareholders, deepening loyalty. Chicago Tribune notes that the rivalry’s longevity gives both teams massive followings across the Midwest and beyond.
Social media following comparison
As of early 2026, the Packers have approximately 3.8 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), while the Bears have 2.5 million. On Facebook, the Packers lead with 5.2 million to the Bears’ 3.9 million. These numbers suggest a broader national audience for Green Bay, though the Bears maintain strong engagement in the Chicago area.
Regional vs national appeal
The Packers draw from a wide rural and small-town fan base across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest, plus a national contingent of “stockholders.” The Bears are firmly Chicago-centric, with spillover into Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. The rivalry itself is one of the most-watched annually on national television, per ESPN.
Green Bay’s shareholder model creates deeper fan commitment but also limits revenue from a single owner. Chicago’s billionaire ownership brings financial flexibility but can feel less personal for fans. Both have pros and cons — and both have fan bases that measure loyalty in decades, not seasons.
The catch: While the Packers’ ownership model fosters deep loyalty, it also caps revenue growth, potentially affecting long-term competitiveness.
Are the Chicago Bears’ Owners Billionaires?
The McCaskey family ownership
The Bears are owned by the McCaskey family, descendants of founder George Halas. The family’s net worth exceeds $1 billion, making them billionaires. Chicago Tribune describes the franchise as a family business, with Virginia McCaskey (George Halas’s daughter) as the principal owner until her death in 2025, after which control passed to her children.
How the Bears are valued
Forbes valued the Bears at $5.8 billion in 2024, ranking them among the top 10 most valuable NFL franchises. The Packers were valued at $5.1 billion in the same period. The difference stems largely from stadium size and market — Soldier Field holds 61,500, while Lambeau Field holds 81,441 — and from the Bears’ Chicago market revenue.
Comparison to the Packers’ public ownership
The Packers are the only publicly owned NFL team, organized as a non-profit corporation. They have issued stock in five rounds (1923, 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011). No single person or entity controls the team. Chicago Tribune contrasts this with the Bears’ private ownership by a single family.
What Did Aaron Rodgers Say to the Bears?
Famous ‘I still own you’ quote
After a 24-14 win over the Bears on October 17, 2021, Rodgers shouted to Bears fans at Soldier Field: “All my f—ing life, I own you… I still own you!” ESPN and CBS Sports both reported the quote. At that point, Rodgers was 22-5 against Chicago, a .815 winning percentage that ESPN called one of the best by a quarterback against a single opponent since 1950.
Trolling Bears fans during games
Rodgers frequently used on-field gestures and postgame comments to needle Bears fans. The “I still own you” remark became a defining moment of the rivalry, often replayed during broadcasts. CBS Sports noted Rodgers had 57 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions against Chicago in regular-season play at that time.
Terry Bradshaw’s reaction to Rodgers’ IQ
In a 2023 YouTube interview, former NFL quarterback and broadcaster Terry Bradshaw commented on Rodgers’s intelligence, sparking a round of jokes and analysis. The exact words transcribed vary, and no verified recording of Bradshaw’s full quote has been made public. The episode highlighted how the Bears-Packers rivalry extends beyond the field into media and personality clashes.
Timeline
- 1921 – First meeting: Chicago Staleys (Bears) defeat Packers 20-0 (Sports Illustrated)
- 1930s-1940s – Halas vs Lambeau rivalry develops (Chicago Tribune)
- 1960s – Packers dominance under Vince Lombardi (5 NFL championships) (Chicago Tribune)
- 1985 – Bears win Super Bowl XX (Chicago Tribune)
- 1992-2008 – Brett Favre era; Packers win Super Bowl XXXI (ESPN)
- 2010s – Aaron Rodgers leads Packers to Super Bowl XLV and multiple playoff wins over Bears (ESPN)
- 2026 – Bears beat Packers 31-27 in Wild Card playoff, snapping 10-game losing streak (Sports Illustrated)
Clarity Check
Confirmed facts
- Series record: Packers 109-98-6
- Bears owners are billionaires (McCaskey family)
- Packers are the only publicly owned NFL team
- Aaron Rodgers’ “I still own you” quote (via ESPN)
What’s unclear
- Exact size of each fan base (estimates vary)
- Aaron Rodgers’ actual IQ (no verified public test)
- Terry Bradshaw’s exact words (requires transcription verification)
- Whether the Bears’ net worth includes all McCaskey family assets
Expert Voices
All my f—ing life, I own you… I still own you!
Aaron Rodgers, shouting to Bears fans after a 24-14 win on October 17, 2021 (ESPN)
The rivalry includes 210 regular-season contests plus those two playoff clashes before 2026.
Chicago Tribune
The rivalry also drew commentary from Terry Bradshaw, who in a 2023 YouTube interview discussed Rodgers’s intelligence. The exact wording remains unverified, but the media moment underscores how Bears-Packers storylines captivate even retired legends.
Summary
The Bears-Packers rivalry remains the NFL’s gold standard for history, passion, and fan engagement. For Bears fans, the 2026 playoff upset is a hopeful turning point. For Packers fans, it’s a reminder that dominance can be fleeting. The implication for the NFC North is clear: the race just got a lot more interesting.
Related reading: Bears-Packers rivalry history · Four quotes that’ll make you run through a wall for Packers-Bears playoff game
instagram.com, cbssports.com, sports.yahoo.com, statmuse.com, chicagobears.com, facebook.com, facebook.com, youtube.com
For a deeper look at the numbers behind this historic matchup, all-time head-to-head stats reveal just how close the series has been.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next Bears vs Packers game scheduled?
The 2026 regular-season schedule has not been released as of early 2026; NFC North opponents meet twice annually, so a 2026 meeting is guaranteed.
Who holds the longest winning streak in the rivalry?
The Packers won 10 straight regular-season games from 2019 to 2025, the longest streak since the 1960s.
What is the largest margin of victory in Bears-Packers history?
The Bears’ 61-7 win in 1980 is the largest margin. The Packers’ biggest win is 49-0 in 1960.
How many times have the teams met in the playoffs?
As of 2026, the teams have met three times in the playoffs: 1941 (Bears), 2010 (Packers), and 2026 (Bears).
Who is the winningest coach in the rivalry?
George Halas (Bears) leads with 48 wins against Green Bay. Curly Lambeau (Packers) has 35 wins against Chicago.
Which team has the most Hall of Fame players in the rivalry?
The Bears have 32 Pro Football Hall of Famers, the Packers have 26. Combined, they account for 58 enshrinees.