The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are among the most ruthless rivalries in professional sports and rookie defensive end Austin Booker has already adopted the rivalry before even taking his first NFL snap.
Austin Booker is all-in on Bears-Packers rivalry
Booker joined Barstool Sports' The Mid Show, and in his closing statements, he was asked if he had anything else he wanted to say. And, well, it's safe to say he's all-in on the Bears vs. Packers rivalry already.
"F*** Green Bay."Austin Booker on The Mid Show
Now, there will be Bears fans who get twisted about this banter, but in a rivalry that the Chicago Bears have played little brother in for a while now, it's about time the Bears take this rivalry seriously.
Recently, Caleb Williams was spotted at a Chicago bar chanting a similar statement, and it appears like the Bears could finally be changing the tide of this historic rivalry.
Until wins follow the banter, not much has changed, but with the Bears' recent uptick in expectations surrounding their team-building in the last few years, there's merit to believing the Chicago Bears could be successful in the near future.
Joining the rivalry banter, Austin Booker heads into his rookie season alongside defensive end Montez Sweat, as Sweat was responsible for a late-season surge, resulting in the Bears being a respectable defensive unit in the NFL.
Austin Booker Vs Packers first round pick Jordan Morgan at the Senior bowl. pic.twitter.com/nMI6Ci85wY
— ImBearingDown (@ImBearingDown) April 27, 2024
Booker was drafted with pick No. 144, and while he might not be a Dallas Turner or Jared Verse, his talent was far superior to the pick with which he was selected. After one season with Minnesota and one with Kansas, Booker combined for 56 tackles (40 solos, 16 assisted), 12 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 2023 alone. Ryan Poles knew he would be a solid addition to a defensive front that needed more production.
With a lack of firepower on the defensive line, Booker could see himself being a major contributor early on, and if he is, the sentiment shared today will be one he'll have to whisper in the ears of Jordan Love when he brings him down for several sacks.