I know, I know, it's the question every Chicago Bears fan has been asking for over the past decade.
In the past, there have been numerous instances when Chicago fans believed this was true, only to have their hopes dashed at the very end. However, with the Bears and the Green Bay Packers' recent struggles and a completely new look, I'm declaring this to be the year the Bears finally overtake the Packers.
Chicago Finally Has The Better Coach
I'm not saying that Matt LaFleur is anything special. He's a solid football mind, but he's clearly not a leader of men, and he panics much too often. However, he has consistently been a step ahead during his tenure, mainly due to the competition (or lack thereof) he faced from his rival head coaches of the Bears.
This year, even though we are only four games into the season, I think most football fans outside of Wisconsin would say that Ben Johnson is ahead of LaFleur. While I do realize we are just two weeks removed from an embarrassing 31-point loss to the Detroit Lions, let's look at the indisputable facts:
Ben Johnson had the Minnesota Vikings on the ropes in Week 1 until the lead slipped away late in the fourth. While that loss certainly stung at the time, coaches can't possibly know what they have in a team and what they need to fix until actual football is played; preseason doesn't count.
Since that game, the Bears have lost to a Lions team that is now looking like the hottest team in football, while dominating the Dallas Cowboys and knocking off the Las Vegas Raiders. Although the Cowboys don't look great record-wise, they did tie with the Packers and score 40 points on their "vaunted defense" without star receiver CeeDee Lamb.
On the Packers' side, yes, they started 2-0, but they routinely failed to pull away in either of those games. The Detroit Lions were still trying to find some footing after losing both coordinators, and the Washington Commanders looked like an absolute shell of themselves on a short week.
Since then, they have absolutely choked away a game to the Cleveland Browns and barely tied with a Cowboys team that the Bears beat by 17. If the media wants to claim the Packers are better on paper, they can't also claim LaFleur is the superior coach.
Chicago Has Leaders
Team leaders and their importance in a team cannot be understated. The Bears have been missing one for a long time, but finally have one in Ben Johnson. Say what you will about him, and I understand it's early, but there is no argument that he is a leader of men.
On the flip side, look at Green Bay. Jordan Love is very soft-spoken, their defense is known for their immaturity (see Quay Walker ejected in a must-win Week 18 game), and Matt LaFleur commands a press conference with as much passion as Craig Counsell.
For the sake of transparency, it's essential to acknowledge that having "leaders" on their own doesn't bring much to a team. You still need talent on paper and competent coaches around you. With that in mind, on paper, the Bears have often been closer to the Packers than most people think; the results just haven't been there.
The Chicago Bears Own the Rivalry Now
Unfortunately, neither of these teams faces off until Week 14. Even though not much can truly be seen until that happens, Bears fans should feel pretty confident that this is the year they finally overtake the Green Bay Packers.
On paper, the team is just as good, if not better than, Green Bay. They have coordinators who are competent and are no longer shooting themselves in the foot at every possible moment. Most importantly, Chicago finally has the right coach and a group of leaders that can take this team to the next level.
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There are many weeks left in the 2025 NFL season, and we won't know the answer with certainty until Week 16, when the teams match up for the second time. However, I've seen more than enough, and I think my fellow Bears fans have too: this is the year the Chicago Bears finally overtake the Green Bay Packers.