Emotions were running high for the Chicago Bears after they stormed back from being down 18 points at halftime to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in the NFC Wild Card.
In the Bears locker room, head coach Ben Johnson started his celebratory speech to the team by screaming, "F*** the Packers!" There will not be a single Bears fan who would have a problem with that, but it became a topic of conversation, with many people taking exception to the comments and seeing it as disrespectful.
With some time to think it over, Johnson spoke to the media for the first time since the game and was asked about his comments. If reporters were expecting to get an apology from him, they shouldn't hold their breath on it.
"There’s a rivalry that exists between these two teams," Johnson said via ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "Something that I fully recognize and am a part of...I don’t like that team. [Chairman] George [McCaskey] and I have talked, and we’re on the same page."
Ben Johnson's honest answer is something Bears fans have been dreaming for
This is what rivalry football is all about. Two teams that truly hate each other. It's been missing from this rivalry for a long time.
If we are being honest, the Packers have owned the series over the last decade-plus, and the Bears needed a boost to the rivalry to get back into it. Now winning three of the last four matchups against the Packers is a pretty significant thing for them.
It's clear that Johnson and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur are going to have a lot of matchups and a lot of words towards each other for a long time. Neither guy is going to be inviting the other over for dinner with the significant others anytime soon.
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Bears fans will have to wait until later this year for the next installment of the rivalry, as the football team is focused on winning a Super Bowl, with the next step being to beat the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field in the NFC Divisional Round.