Except for two years — 1922 and 1982 — the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have played each other every season since 1921.

They are the two oldest teams in continuous operation in the National Football League with a rivalry spanning 208 regular season games and two playoff meetings. The Packers hold a slight lead in the series with 109 wins to the Bears’ 97, with six ties.

Here’s a look back, decade by decade, at how the teams have fared and the highlights — and low lights — of their matchups.

Week 16 recap: Chicago Bears pull off improbable rally and beat Green Bay Packers 22-16 in overtime

1920s

University of Illinois star Red Grange signed with the Chicago Bears on Nov. 22, 1925 — the same day the team beat the Green Bay Packers 21-0 at Wrigley Field with Grange in attendance. (Chicago Tribune)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 27, 1921

George Halas scored the final touchdown in the teams’ first meeting at Wrigley Field. The Bears, then known as the Staleys, won 20-0.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 19, 1926

On an icy Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears tied the Green Bay Packers 3-3 during a Christmas fund charity game on Dec. 19, 1926. The Bears were scoreless with five minutes to play when Paddy Driscoll drop kicked the tying field goal. (Chicago Tribune)

An icy field kept teams’ Soldier Field debut a low-scoring affair. The game ended in a 3-3 tie.

1930s

The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 30-27 in a thrilling game on Nov. 5, 1939, at Wrigley Field. “It was not the largest score ever run up in the National League. Nor was it the largest crowd ever attracted to a professional game in Chicago,” the Tribune’s George Strickler wrote. “But in the memory of the oldest observers there is no equal for the sensational display of offensive football produced by this 42d meeting between these bitter rivals. (Chicago Tribune)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 11, 1932

Bronco Nagurski slid 56 yards to the end zone at Wrigley Field, forcing a playoff game inside Chicago Stadium.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Sept. 25, 1932

The only scoreless meeting between the Bears and Packers took place at City Stadium in Green Bay.

1940s

The Green Bay Packers line failed to hold when Clark Hinkle (3), Packers back, tried a field goal in the first period of the NFL’s Western Division title game against the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field in Chicago, on Dec. 14, 1941. The Bears won 33-14. Here John Siegel, Beasr end, rushes in on the ball as it leaves Hinkle’s foot, with teammates Dick Plasman (14), Dan Fortmann (21) and Ed Kolman (29) backing him up in bringing the ball down on the Bears’ 31. Herman Rohrig (8), Packers back, is also seen. (Harry L. Hall/AP)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 14, 1941

The Chicago Bears’ locker room was a scene of joy as Owner/Coach George Halas, far left, led players, staff members and well wishers in a rousing cheer after the team’s 33 to 14 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Wrigley Field on Dec. 14, 1941, in a playoff for the Western Division National league title. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

The Bears’ dressing room at Wrigley Field was a scene of joy as owner-coach George Halas celebrated with players, members of the staff and well-wishers after Chicago’s 33-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers in the playoff for the Western Division National League title on Dec. 14, 1941 — the first playoff game between the teams.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 2, 1941
Packers back Cecil Isbell scored in the first quarter of a game against the Bears at Wrigley Field.

A monster upset — with the Packers 16-14 win — caused nine reported heart attacks.

1950s

The bruising ground power of the Chicago Bears is typified in this action picture made in Nov. 6, 1955. John Hoffman of the Bears is being hauled down by the Green Bay Packers but Hoffman already smashed for a 6-yard gain. The tackle is made by Deral Teteak, guard Stan Jones (78) blocks for Hoffman, followed by Bill McColl (83). Chick Jagade (30) also threw a block before he went down. Packers are John Martinkovic (8) and Billy Bookout (20). The Bears gained 410 yards on the ground. Bears won 52-31. (Maurice Rohde/Chicago American)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 6, 1955

In the highest-scoring game in the rivalry, the Bears won 52-31 at Wrigley Field.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 9, 1952
Packers quarterback Tobin Rote rushed for a seven-yard gain against the Chicago Bears at Wrigley Field on November 9, 1952. The Packers won the game 41-28 — their first win in Chicago since 1941.

1960s

Gale Sayers, running here against the Green Bay Packers at Wrigley Field, had a season that was about the only thing worthy of being on any 1969 Bears highlight film. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 26, 1967
Packers Hall of Fame head coach Vince Lombardi greets Bears Hall of Fame head coach George Halas on Nov. 26, 1967, at Wrigley Field.

The final game between Bears coach George Halas and Packers coach Vince Lombardi. The Packers won 17-13 at Wrigley Field and clinched the division.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 15, 1968

Third-string quarterback Don Horn prevented the Bears from clinching the NFC Central. The Packers won 28-27 at Wrigley Field.

1970s

Walter Payton leaps over the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 14, 1976 at Soldier Field in Chicago. Payton broke the 1,000 yard rushing mark for the season and the Bears won 24-13. (Ed Wagner Jr./Chicago Tribune)

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Oct. 30, 1977
Walter Payton rushed for 205 yards — the second-highest total of his career — during the Bears’ 26-0 win at Lambeau Field.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 15, 1970
In this Nov. 16, 1970, file photo, the Bears’ Lee Roy Caffey, left, congratulates Packers quarterback Bart Starr after Starr scored the winning touchdown in Green Bay.

Injured Packers quarterback Bart Starr scored the winning touchdown with 3 seconds remaining in the game. The Packers won 20-19 at Lambeau Field.

1980s

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Oct. 21, 1985

Chicago Bears William Perry scores a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during a “Monday Night Football” game on Oct. 21, 1985. The Bears won 23-7. (Ed Wagner/Chicago Tribune)

William “Refrigerator” Perry scored his first touchdown during the Bears’ 23-7 win at Soldier Field.

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 23, 1986

Green Bay Packers Charles Martin (94) checks his victim after slamming Bears quarterback Jim McMahon to the ground during a Nov. 23, 1986 game in Soldier Field. The play occurred after a Packer interception in the second quarter. Referee Jerry Markbreit (9), who witnessed the act from a few feet away, assessed a 15-yard penalty to the Packers and ejected Martin. McMahon was out for the season after the hit. The Bears won the game, however, 12-10. (Edward Wagner/Chicago Tribune)

Though the Bears on 12-10 at Soldier Field, their quarterback Jim McMahon’s shoulder was separated after a late hit, knocking him out for the season and dashed the team’s hopes to repeat as NFL champs.

1990s

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Nov. 7, 1999
Green Bay Packers kicker Ryan Longwell (8) has his field goal attempt blocked in the final seconds of the game against the Chicago Bears Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, in Green Bay, Wis. The Bears won 14-13.

“Walter Payton picked me up in the air,” Bryan Robinson says after blocking Packers’ 28-yard field-goal attempt on last play of first game since Payton’s death.

Location: Lambeau Field

Result: Bears, 14-13

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Oct. 31, 1994
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, wearing a throwback uniform, celebrates his 36-yard touchdown run against the Chicago bears on a cold, rainy night at Soldier Field on Oct. 31, 1994. The Packers won the game 33-6, launching a ten-game winning streak against the Bears. Chicago wouldn’t win another game against the Packers until 1999.

The Bears lose seventh straight “Monday Night Football” appearance in monsoon-like conditions while the Packers begin a 10-game winning streak in the series.

Location: Soldier Field

Result: Packers, 33-6

 

2000s

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Sept. 10, 2006
The Bears shut out Brett Favre for the first time in his career, and Lovie Smith moved to 4-1 against Green Bay in his short time in Chicago. Rex Grossman continued to tease Bears fans with a good game, and the great Devin Hester arrived by returning a fourth-quarter punt for a touchdown in his first game.

Rookie Devin Hester returns a fourth-quarter punt 84 yards for a touchdown — the first of his NFL career.

Location: Lambeau Field

Result: Bears, 26-0

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Sept. 29, 2003

Packers quarterback Brett Favre spoils the debut of a newly renovated Soldier Field with three touchdown passes.

Location: Soldier Field

Result: Packers, 38-23

2010s

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 16, 2018

Bears linebackers Khalil Mack, No. 52, and Leonard Floyd sack Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter on Dec. 16, 2018, at Soldier Field.

The Bears sack Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers five times on their way to clinching the NFC North for the first time in eight years.

Location: Soldier Field

Result: Bears, 24-17

LOWLIGHT OF THE DECADE: Dec. 29, 2013
Chicago Bears’ Brandon Marshall lies on the turf at end of 33-28 loss to Green Bay Packers in NFL game at Soldier Field in Chicago on on Dec. 29, 2013.

The Packers win the NFC North on a last-second touchdown.

Location: Soldier Field

Result: Packers, 33-28

2020s

 

 

Highlight of the decade: Jan. 5, 2025

Packers fans yell at Bears linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (45) as he celebrates Cairo Santos’ game-winning field goal Jan. 5, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

Cairo Santos made a 51-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Bears to a 24-22 victory over the Packers in their season finale.

Location: Lambeau Field

Result: Bears win 24-22

Lowlight of the decade: Jan. 3, 2021

Kindle Vildor reacts after missing an interception during the second half against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 3, 2021.

The Bears lost to the Packers 35-16 at Soldier Field, but still advanced to the postseason for the second time in three years.

The Bears could thank the Los Angeles Rams for the playoff berth after the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 18-7. The Cardinals needed a victory and a Bears loss to make the playoffs, so the Bears moved on to play next weekend instead.

The seventh-seeded Bears would be defeated by the second-seeded Saints in New Orleans in the wild-card round.

Location: Soldier Field

Result: Packers, 35-16

Sources: Tribune reporting and archives; Pro Football Reference; Chicago Bears; Green Bay Packers; Pro Football Hall of Fame; Newspapers.com

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