Bear Memories: The Chicago-Green Bay Rivalry

Halas would provide food according to how we had fared against the Packers. If we won, it was steaks for everybody. But if we lost, we were lucky to be served hamburgers.

–Harlan Hill, 1950s

I didn’t have any particular grievance with any of the Packer players, I just wanted to beat them all.

–Hall of Famer Doug Atkins, 1960s

Doug Buffone took me aside to tell me about Green Bay games … to set me straight about the importance of the rivalry. It definitely was not a game to be taken for granted.

–Brian Baschnagel, 1970s

Each year at the start of the season, fans we’d meet would just have the one request–please beat Green Bay.

–Jim Flanigan, 1990s