Bears-Packers Franchise Connections

The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers boast one of the NFL's most intense rivalries, stemming from their shared history and geographical proximity. As the season progresses, this report will delve into the connections between the Bears' coaching staff and roster to their opponents, as well as their counterparts' ties to Chicago. This week, the focus is on the overlap between the Bears and Packers.

Historically, roster connections between the two teams have been consistent. In recent years, players like Jimmy Graham, Julius Peppers, Adrian Amos, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Marcedes Lewis have worn the jerseys of both franchises. However, in the upcoming 2026 season, roster connections are expected to dwindle.

The only player currently on the Packers' roster who has previously played for the Bears is defensive tackle Jonathan Ford. Ford spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons with Chicago, contributing 13 tackles and one tackle for loss in 12 games across those years. Originally selected by the Packers in the 2022 draft, Ford was cut before the 2024 season and signed with the Bears off the Packers' practice squad in December 2024.

He returned to Green Bay late in 2025 and has been a consistent presence for them thus far in 2026. Currently, Ford is ranked No. 101 out of 118 qualified defensive tackles, indicating he is a valuable backup option.

Unlike Ford, no other Bears players have a prior connection to the Packers. However, practice squad defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. does have a historical tie. Drafted by Green Bay in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Johnson played in 12 games in 2023, starting in four and amassing 24 tackles, an interception, and three pass deflections. The Packers released him before the 2024 season, and he subsequently played for the Giants before signing with the Bears in May of that year.

The coaching staffs of the Bears and Packers also share several connections. One notable link is between the teams' quarterbacks coaches and assistant head coaches. Luke Getsy, the Packers' current quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach, previously served as the Bears' offensive coordinator from 2022 to 2023. Additionally, tight ends coach John Dunn and offensive line coach Luke Butkus have ties to both teams.

Dunn was a football assistant and offensive assistant for the Bears during their 2016 and 2017 seasons, while Butkus had a tryout with the Bears as a player in 2002 and is the nephew of the Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus.

Notably, Bears defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator Al Harris spent seven seasons playing for the Packers, earning Pro Bowl honors twice and a second-team All-Pro nod in 2007. Another Bears coach with a connection to Green Bay is safeties coach and assistant defensive backs coach Matt Giordano, who played for the Packers for just one season in 2009, appearing in five games with two tackles.