If Green Bay fans needed another reason to dislike Ben Johnson, he just handed them one.
And he didn't hesitate.
Ben Johnson Gives Packers Fans Another Reason to Hate Him
From the moment Ben Johnson arrived in Chicago, he understood one thing clearly:
The Bears-Packers rivalry isn't polite.
It isn't subtle.
And it definitely isn't friendly.
Johnson wasted no time embracing that reality, even taking an early jab at Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during his introductory press conference.
Since then, the tension has only escalated.
A Season of Spicy Moments
This year's rivalry added multiple chapters:
- Two icy regular-season handshakes between Johnson and LaFleur
- A dramatic Wild Card comeback victory by Chicago
- A postgame locker room speech where Johnson emphatically declared, "Man, f**k the Packers."
That locker room moment quickly went viral — and Green Bay fans were not amused.
If anything, it cemented Johnson's role as public enemy No. 1 in Wisconsin.
Doubling Down at the Combine
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Johnson spoke with Mike Florio and once again made it clear: his feelings haven't softened.
He didn't walk anything back.
He didn't offer diplomatic balance.
He leaned in.
And Packers fans responded exactly how you'd expect — with social media fury and renewed disdain.
But Johnson doesn't seem particularly concerned.
Rivalries Aren't Supposed to Be Friendly
Let's be honest: Bears-Packers is one of the NFL's oldest, most storied rivalries.
Are the head coaches supposed to exchange pleasantries and grab dinner?
Chicago fans likely remember when former Bears coach Matt Eberflus and LaFleur were seen laughing together at a college basketball game. That didn't sit well.
Johnson has flipped that dynamic.
There's visible tension now.
There's edge.
And there's competitive fire.
That's exactly what rivalries are built on.
Respect Without Friendship
Importantly, this isn't a lack of professional respect.
Postgame press conferences from all three matchups this season showed mutual acknowledgment of strong coaching and competition.
But respect doesn't mean affection.
And Johnson has made it clear he's not interested in being cordial for appearances.
Why Packers Fans Really Don't Like Him
The comments fuel the fire.
But the real reason Green Bay fans can't stand Johnson?
He made the Bears relevant again.
Chicago isn't a pushover anymore. The rivalry is competitive. The playoff win stung.
And for the first time in years, Packers fans may feel the balance shifting.
That's harder to stomach than any quote.
Exactly How It Should Be
Johnson isn't trying to win over Wisconsin.
He's trying to win football games.
And in a rivalry that has defined generations of NFL history, animosity is part of the package.
Things feel heated again.
Uncomfortable.
Personal.
In other words?
Exactly how Bears-Packers is supposed to feel.