Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers: The NFL’s most important rivalry
By Daniel
Nov 4, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) pursues a Tennessee Titans ball carrier during the second half at LP Field. The Bears beat the Titans 51-20. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US Presswire
The Names That Have Played In The Game
Lets play a game.
For every Bears icon I name, I’ll name a Packers icon of equal stature. Lets see how long this can go on. George “Papa Bear” Halas and Vince Lombardi. Mike Ditka and Curly Lambeau. Dick Butkus and Bart Starr. Walter Payton and Brett Favre. “Red” Grange and Don Hutson. Mike Singletary and Ray Nitschke. Gale Sayers and Jim Taylor. Bronko Nagurski and Reggie White. Sid Luckman and Paul Hornung. Brian Urlacher and Aaron Rodgers. George Blanda and Herb Adderley. Richard Dent and Johnny “Blood” McNally. This could continue on and on as many Hall of Fame players weren’t mentioned. Try playing that game between the two franchises of any other NFL rivalry. I’m betting you can’t list enough names to fill a football field like I just did — plus coaches. I guarantee you can’t name half as many of this stature.
Dec 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears former player and coach Mike Ditka (left) is honored during halftime during an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The names that have participated in this rivalry game is one of the reasons why it is so important. Some of these legends have passed, all of them eventually will. But they’ll all live on forever within this rivalry. NFL history will live on forever within this rivalry. It’s the most important rivalry in the NFL and culturally and geographically it’s on par with the best in all of sports. The New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox, Michigan Wolverines vs Ohio State Buckeyes, Duke Blue Devils vs North Carolina Tar Heels, and Alabama Crimson Tide vs Auburn Tigers all come to mind. This rivalry is at least equal to these amazing rivalries as far as importance to their sport’s respective histories and impact of everyday culture — many would argue more so.
The two biggest names in this rivalry are Halas and Lombardi. Halas was a founding father to the NFL and was instrumental to its growth. Lombardi was the first coach in modern times to build a dynasty. He did this in the 1960s when the NFL became the nation’s most popular sport. Which was has had a more profound impact on NFL history? Pull up a bar stool in either Chicago or Green Bay and state your case — this debate is too close to call. But if a Mount Rushmore was ever erected for the NFL the only debate would be over which other two faces would get chiseled onto it.