For years, Chicago Bears fans have had one common thread with, say, Minnesota Vikings fans: the enemy has always been and always will be the Green Bay Packers.
However, after the 2025 season, could the tides be turning just a little bit?
Known Bears radio host and reporter, Leila Rahimi, tossed out a theory recently on the air at 104.3 The Score and it's tough to argue with, all things considered:
"We need to get ready to understand that the Bears may be the villains. They may be the new villains in the NFL."
After what seems like forever, the Bears might not be able to point the finger and call the Packers the villain; at least, the Bears might now finally be able to hold a candle to Green Bay's level of "villain-ness."
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams may have turned the Bears into a new NFL villain
It is a weird thought to wrap your mind around if you are a lifelong Bears fan. It's especially odd to think about if you have been tuned in on the last 25 years or so. Between Brett Favre's 23 wins over the Bears in his career and then moving on to the likes of Aaron Rodgers, calling Chicago the villain seems like a joke.
It isn't hard to picture Green Bay as the villain, primarily because of Rodgers' antics, to be frank. After Rodgers infamously shouted those four words at the Soldier Field crowd a few years back, it is safe to say he cemented himself as the number one villain in Chicago Bears history.
But now, to look back at last season, it makes sense why the Bears could be seen as a villain.
First and foremost, they have a head coach, in Ben Johnson, who threw all coach speak and manners to the wind when he screamed "F*** the Packers!" in a locker room speech following the team's victory over Matt LaFleur and company.
That, alone, is enough to warrant a "villain" label.
But, the more you watch Caleb Williams, as a Packers fan, the more you can't help but put him in that category as well. He did rip out the hearts of Packers fans in real time ... twice ... in one season ... and once in the playoffs.
Williams' swagger and the way he carries himself can come across as a bit cocky, but it's a true confidence that the Bears haven't had in their quarterback in about four decades. Not a single Bears quarterback has had the talent to back up his type of swagger since the likes of Jim McMahon, and most would give Williams the nod there in terms of talent.
The Bears now have a good football team. They have a coach and quarterback who should be around for the long haul -- the same coach and quarterback who boast more swagger and guts we've seen in Chicago in quite some time.
Read more: Former Bears Pro Bowler reveals biggest fear for Chicago (and why it’s good
And they're also now likely to be the villain?
What a world we're living in.
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