The rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears has gotten a major shot in the arm in the 2025 NFL season, thanks in large part to the shenanigans of Ben Johnson. The Chicago head coach has never hidden his hatred for the Packers, even saying before he could even coach his first Bears game that he enjoyed defeating Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur twice a season.
Johnson ratcheted it all up after the Bears completed a come-from-behind 31-27 win over Green Bay in the NFC Wild Card Round.
According to ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, LaFleur’s friends are taking issue with Johnson because of the Bears coach’s shenanigans.
“It’s bad enough where friends of Matt LaFleur around the league who will remain nameless can’t stand Ben Johnson because of the feelings and the treatment they know he has towards Matt LaFleur,” Smith said in a recent “First Take” episode.
“Friends of Matt LaFleur around the league can’t stand Ben Johnson.”
PURE SPECULATION but LaFleur and Sean McVay worked together in Washington and LA. LaFleur was McVay's first offensive coordinator with the Rams in 2017. They are close friends. #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/VkbXXdSRyj
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) January 13, 2026
ESPN star says Johnson is getting hate for antics against Packers’ Matt LaFleur
Smith didn’t drop any names, and there’s no telling the exact degree of truth in what he said. But in true Smith fashion, he tried his best to make it appear that what he said is gospel.
“So the point that I’m telling you, this is me, I ain’t giving you an opinion. I’m telling you what I was told.
In any case, the fact remains that Green Bay hates Chicago and vice versa. Although the Packers have already been eliminated from the NFL playoffs, Green Bay fans can still cheer for the downfall of the Bears, who are about to face the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field this coming Sunday.
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