Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers: The NFL’s most important rivalry

Sep 14, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs with the ball during the first quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Unparalleled Historical Success

When it comes to success, these bitter rivals boast more than anyone.

These two teams have combined for 22 NFL Championships (17 World Championships, 5 Super Bowls). That means over 23 percent of all NFL Championships come from this rivalry alone. That leaves just over 76 percent of all other championships to be divided among the NFL’s other 30 franchises. Green Bay boasts an NFL record 13 championships, the Bears have the second most with nine. Individual success is a norm in Green Bay and Chicago, too. These two teams have combined for 49 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees. That means that 17 percent of all the busts in Canton were primary contributors to either the Bears or Packers. The Bears have the most Hall of Fame inductees (27), the Packers have the second most (22). No other rivalry can even begin to dream of listing such accolades. But this rivalry’s combined success doesn’t end there.

Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of a Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers helmet with the Vince Lombardi Trophy during a press conference at the New Orleans Convention Center. Super Bowl XLVII will be played between the San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago boasts the most all-time wins with 714 and Green Bay has the second most with 699. These teams haven’t just compiled a lot of wins over the years — they’ve been consistent. The Bears own the NFL’s best winning percentage and the Packers come in at third. As a bonus statistic, this rivalry has combined to win 14 percent of all AP MVP awards, too (Green Bay with seven of the eight). Without these two teams the NFL would be without two of the most historic and iconic franchises of all-time. The NFL wouldn’t be the same. The league wouldn’t even be the same if these two teams both continued to exist but ceased to be rivals. This bi-annual clash is the most important connection to the game’s wondrous and vast history.

To put it into perspective, all 32 NFL franchises fight every year for the right to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. All NFC teams hope to win the conference first in order to get to the big game. The trophy that all NFC teams hope to lift is named the George Halas Trophy. When the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl last year they celebrated by lifting first the Halas Trophy to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl and then the Lombardi Trophy as confetti rained down. That is exactly what this rivalry means to the NFL and why it’s clearly the most important one of them all.