Packers star calls Bears coach Ben Johnson a ‘troll’ for profane outburst
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While the game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers ended on Saturday, the war of words has continued in the days since.
The Bears posted a remarkable 31-27 victory in the NFC wild card round, defeating their bitter rivals, and have made their disdain for the Packers well known. In the locker room after the game, coach Ben Johnson didn’t hide his feelings.
“Man, fuck the Packers! So fucked! I hate those guys!” Johnson roared in a jubilant Bears locker room.
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Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney and Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images; Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Packers star safety Xavier McKinney called Johnson a “troll” for his comments.
“He’s a troll,” McKinney said. “So it’s okay. I’m just not a troll. So I don’t know, it’s just him. But he’s a great coach.”
Johnson doubled down on his postgame comments on Monday.
“There’s a rivalry between these two teams,” Johnson said. “Something I fully recognize and am a part of. I just don’t like that team.”
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Ben Johnson of the Bears during the Detroit Lions game at Soldier Field on January 4, 2026 in Chicago. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Johnson said he even talked to team owner George McCaskey about it, and the coach said the owner is on the same page.
“This is a rivalry and, city of Chicago, Green Bay, it has to be a rivalry,” Johnson said.
The 39-year-old coach has made his distaste for the Packers known since his inaugural press conference as Bears head coach in January 2025. Johnson talked about how good the NFC North is before spontaneously taking a shot at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
“And to be honest, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year,” Johnson said with a smile.
The coaches’ interactions after the team’s three meetings this season have been brief. After the Packers’ victory, in the team’s first meeting of the regular season, their handshake barely lasted a second before they went ahead.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reacts during the wild card playoff game against the Bears in Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
After the Bears’ unlikely comeback in the regular season, the handshake lasted a little longer, as both coaches patted each other on the arm before going their separate ways.
The handshake after the wild card game was even shorter than the first, as Johnson ran up to LaFleur and shook his hand before running off.
The Bears’ next game is against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday at 6:30 pm ET, when Johnson will have to face another LaFleur. Mike LaFleur, brother of the Packers head coach, is the Rams’ offensive coordinator.
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The News contributed to this report.
Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for News Digital.


