Except for two years — 1922 and 1982 — the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have played each other every season since 1921.
They are the two oldest teams in continuous operation in the National Football League with a rivalry spanning 208 regular season games and two playoff meetings. The Packers hold a slight lead in the series with 109 wins to the Bears’ 97, with six ties.
Here’s a look back, decade by decade, at how the teams have fared and the highlights — and low lights — of their matchups.
1920s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 27, 1921
George Halas scored the final touchdown in the teams’ first meeting at Wrigley Field. The Bears, then known as the Staleys, won 20-0.
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 19, 1926
An icy field kept teams’ Soldier Field debut a low-scoring affair. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.
1930s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 11, 1932
Bronco Nagurski slid 56 yards to the end zone at Wrigley Field, forcing a playoff game inside Chicago Stadium.
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Sept. 25, 1932
The only scoreless meeting between the Bears and Packers took place at City Stadium in Green Bay.
1940s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 14, 1941
The Bears’ dressing room at Wrigley Field was a scene of joy as owner-coach George Halas celebrated with players, members of the staff and well-wishers after Chicago’s 33-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the playoff for the Western Division National League title on Dec. 14, 1941 — the first playoff game between the teams.
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 2, 1941
Packers back Cecil Isbell scored in the first quarter of a game against the Bears at Wrigley Field.
A monster upset — with the Packers 16-14 win — caused nine reported heart attacks.
1950s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 6, 1955
In the highest-scoring game in the rivalry, the Bears won 52-31 at Wrigley Field.
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 9, 1952
Packers quarterback Tobin Rote rushed for a seven-yard gain against the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field on November 9, 1952. The Packers won the game 41-28 — their first win in Chicago since 1941.
1960s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 26, 1967
Packers Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi greets Bears Hall of Fame head coach George Halas on Nov. 26, 1967, at Wrigley Field.
The final game between Bears coach George Halas and Packers coach Vince Lombardi. The Packers won 17-13 at Wrigley Field and clinched the division.
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 15, 1968
Third-string quarterback Don Horn prevented the Bears from clinching the NFC Central. The Packers won 28-27 at Wrigley Field.
1970s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Oct. 30, 1977
As published in the Oct. 31, 1977, edition of the Chicago Tribune.
Walter Payton rushes for 205 yards — the second-highest total of his career.
Location: Lambeau Field
Result: Bears, 26-0
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 15, 1970
In this Nov. 16, 1970, file photo, the Bears’ Lee Roy Caffey, left, congratulates Packers quarterback Bart Starr after Starr scored the winning touchdown in Green Bay.
Injured Packers quarterback Bart Starr scores the winning touchdown with 3 seconds remaining in the game.
Location: Lambeau Field
Result: Packers, 20-19
1980s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Oct. 21, 1985
William “Refrigerator” Perry scores his first touchdown.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Bears, 23-7
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 23, 1986
Green Bay Packer Charles Martin (94) checks his victim after slamming Bears quarterback Jim McMahon to the ground during a Nov 23, 1986 game in Soldier Field. The play occurred after a Packer interception in the second quarter. Referee Jerry Markbreit (9), who witnessed the act from a few feet away, assessed a 15-yard penalty to the Packers and ejected Martin. McMahon was out for the season after the hit. The Bears won the game, however, 12-10.
Bears quarterback Jim McMahon’s shoulder is separated after a late hit, knocking him out for the season and dashing the team’s hopes to repeat as NFL champs.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Bears, 12-10
1990s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 7, 1999
Green Bay Packers kicker Ryan Longwell (8) has his field goal attempt blocked in the final seconds of the game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, in Green Bay, Wis. The Bears won 14-13.
“Walter Payton picked me up in the air,” Bryan Robinson says after blocking Packers’ 28-yard field-goal attempt on last play of first game since Payton’s death.
Location: Lambeau Field
Result: Bears, 14-13
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Oct. 31, 1994
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, wearing a throwback uniform, celebrates his 36-yard touchdown run against the Chicago bears on a cold, rainy night at Soldier Field on Oct. 31, 1994. The Packers won the game 33-6, launching a ten-game winning streak against the Bears. Chicago wouldn’t win another game against the Packers until 1999.
The Bears lose seventh straight “Monday Night Football” appearance in monsoon-like conditions while the Packers begin a 10-game winning streak in the series.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Packers, 33-6
2000s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Sept. 10, 2006
The Bears shut out Brett Favre for the first time in his career, and Lovie Smith moved to 4-1 against Green Bay in his short time in Chicago. Rex Grossman continued to tease Bears fans with a good game, and the great Devin Hester arrived by returning a fourth-quarter punt for a touchdown in his first game.
Rookie Devin Hester returns a fourth-quarter punt 84 yards for a touchdown — the first of his NFL career.
Location: Lambeau Field
Result: Bears, 26-0
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Sept. 29, 2003
Packers quarterback Brett Favre spoils the debut of a newly renovated Soldier Field with three touchdown passes.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Packers, 38-23
2010s
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 16, 2018
Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune
Bears linebackers Khalil Mack, No. 52, and Leonard Floyd sack Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter on Dec. 16, 2018, at Soldier Field.
The Bears sack Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times on their way to clinching the NFC North for the first time in eight years.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Bears, 24-17
LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 29, 2013
Chicago Bears’ Brandon Marshall lies on the turf at end of 33-28 loss to Green Bay Packers in NFL game at Soldier Field in Chicago on on Dec. 29, 2013.
The Packers win the NFC North on a last-second touchdown.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Packers, 33-28
2020s
Highlight of the decade: Jan. 5, 2025
Cairo Santos made a 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bears to a 24-22 victory over the Packers in their season finale.
Location: Lambeau Field
Result: Bears win 24-22
Lowlight of the decade: Jan. 3, 2021
Kindle Vildor reacts after missing an interception during the second half against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 3, 2021.
The Bears lost to the Packers 35-16 at Soldier Field, but still advanced to the postseason for the second time in three years.
The Bears could thank the Los Angeles Rams for the playoff berth after the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 18-7. The Cardinals needed a victory and a Bears loss to make the playoffs, so the Bears moved on to play next weekend instead.
The seventh-seeded Bears would be defeated by the second-seeded Saints in New Orleans in the wild-card round.
Location: Soldier Field
Result: Packers, 35-16
Sources: Tribune reporting and archives; Pro Football Reference; Chicago Bears; Green Bay Packers; Pro Football Hall of Fame; Newspapers.com
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