The longstanding rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears remains a defining aspect of the NFL’s NFC North division, transforming notably since Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to sustained success in Titletown. With Rodgers now gone, Jordan Love, the current Packers starter, has taken on the responsibility of maintaining dominance over Chicago. In his two seasons as starter, Love holds a 3-1 record against the Bears, with his only defeat coming in the last game of the previous season where he played minimally to avoid injury. This has often led to the perception that Love controls the rivalry with the Bears just as Rodgers did before him.

Father’s Day Clip Sparks Confusion and Amusement Among Fans

This Father’s Day, however, a clip from Love resurfaced, drawing laughter and confusion from fans on both sides for an unexpected reason. In the video, Love addresses Bears supporters directly with a Father’s Day greeting, seemingly poking fun at the rival fanbase. Yet, the message did not have the intended impact, as many Bears fans interpreted the greeting in a way that flipped the usual rivalry script on its head.

Happy Father’s Day to all of the Bears fans out there. Go Pack go,

Love said in the clip.

While at first some Bears fans thought Love was asserting his dominance by acting as their ‘dad,’ meaning he was claiming superiority over the rival team, others took a step back to reconsider the phrasing. Normally, a son offers a Father’s Day greeting to his father, so some concluded Love’s message implied that the Bears were, in fact, his father—an unintended reversal of the traditional rivalry roles.

Internet Reacts to the Unexpected Implication

The internet quickly caught on to the irony and poked fun at Love’s wording. In the comments, users questioned the meaning behind the greeting and speculated on whether Love realized his slip. One fan asked,

“Isn’t he saying the bears are his father?”

while another agreed,

“That’s what I thought,”

highlighting the confusion.

Another pointed out,

“I don’t think he knows what he just did,”

underscoring how the message unintentionally put the Bears in a dominant fatherly role instead of the opposite.

Some fans were more critical about Love’s right to mock Chicago, recalling that the Bears had beaten the Packers in the final game of the prior season. A user sarcastically asked,

“I’m not a Bears fan, but didn’t y’all beat the Packers last year last time you played lol,”

drawing attention to that recent loss.

Contextualizing the Previous Season’s Week 18 Game

Indeed, the Bears defeated the Packers 24-22 in Week 18 of the previous NFL season, a game marked by two lead changes in the final minute. However, for Packers quarterback Jordan Love, this contest was essentially meaningless from a playoff perspective, as the team was already guaranteed a postseason spot. Love only attempted 12 passes before being taken out to protect his health, indicating the limited context for the loss.

The Bears’ victory, while impressive, was somewhat counterproductive for them from a strategic standpoint. Winning the game meant they lost an opportunity to improve their draft position in the upcoming NFL Draft. This ironic twist was reminiscent of Jerod Mayo-like strategic moves, where teams sometimes benefit more by losing than by winning late in the season.

Resurfaced Footage and Its Rivalry Impact

The viral Father’s Day clip from Love, originating from 2023, was never meant as a jab meant to stir the long-standing Packers-Bears rivalry further. Love later clarified that the brief message was recorded in response to a Bears fan’s request, without any intention to offend or rile up supporters. Nonetheless, the rivalry’s raw emotions caused fans to latch on to the clip, turning it into a source of internet banter and additional competition.

This exchange highlights the deep-seated history and bitter tension between these two teams, where even casual comments can spark wide reactions. With Love poised to continue leading the Packers and the Bears aiming to reclaim their ground, moments like these serve as reminders of the intense feelings involved whenever the teams meet.