Outside Soldier Field in downtown Chicago, there is a buzz in the air. The end of summer marks the beginning of cooler weather. Chicago inhabitants are gearing up for another NFL season supporting their beloved Bears. Fans of the Green Bay Packers are doing the same as both teams and their fans get ready to kickoff Thursday night. Below is some history regarding the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears rivalry.
Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears Rivalry Integral to NFL History
As fans walk into the stadium Thursday night for the season opener, they will notice two striking statues carved out of the ground. Those statues depict two legends in Chicago Bears history; superstar running back Walter Payton and innovative coach/owner George Halas. Their respective status in pro football history is undeniable. Payton once held the record for career rushing yards, touchdowns and all-purpose yards while Halas pioneered the art of the practice and using film to defeat opposing teams.
Constructing statues for two pillars of the Bears franchise is not an isolated phenomenon. It is part of the season-long appreciation of the NFL celebrating its 100 year anniversary.
The century of the NFL’s existence has fostered a plethora of memories. Moments that project sublime athletic skill and instances that forge a love and passion for this game every Sunday. But all roads lead back to the historical rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears to highlight the grandeur standing pro football has in our society.
Gene Staley Fuels the Passion of the Chicago Bears
The story of the Chicago Bears begins in the early 1900’s with businessman A.E. “Gene” Staley. On November 6, 1906, Staley founded his own cornstarch production business, A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company, where he spent $45,000 on refurbishing his plant in Decatur, Illinois. The corporation would quickly become the largest producer of corn across America.
Staley may have had a keen business mind, but he also had a zealous enthusiasm towards sports. Initially founding a baseball team for his employees, Staley eventually formed a football counterpart, to foster community and unity among his workers. Nicknamed the Decatur Staleys, the football team was lead by George Halas.
“I saw the offer as an exciting opportunity but did not suspect the tremendous future Mr. Staley was opening for me,” stated Halas in his autobiography.
In 1921, Halas seized control of the team from Staley. For the modest price of $5,000, Halas relocated the Staleys to Chicago, where he renamed the team the Bears. Playing inside the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, the Bears owner injected the same colors of his alma mater, the University of Illinois.
The Bears would wear uniforms of darker shades of orange-and-blue, laying the foundation for an identity that would be eventually known as the “Monsters of the Midway.”
Lambeau and Green Bay: A Packer Relationship
207 miles north of Chicago, another franchise was on the upswing. To embrace life in Green Bay, Wisconsin, one must embrace three integral customs: beer, cheese and football.
Every Friday night, football fanatics would congregate at Green Bay East High School to watch rising star Curly Lambeau dazzle on the field.
Committing to the University of Notre Dame, Lambeau’s time on the Fighting Irish varsity team would be cut short due to tonsillitis.
The removal of Lambeau’s tonsils would end up being a blessing in disguise. While working for the Indian Packing Company as a clerk, Lambeau partnered with George Whitney Calhoun to startup the Green Bay Packers. With $500 invested for uniforms, the Packers were born.
Lambeau’s tonsillitis laid the groundwork for one of pro football’s foundational franchises. In 1920, the Green Bay native seized control of the day-to-day operations of the Packers. Lambeau would be a transcendent player-coach, playing halfback in the era of the single wing formation.
In 77 games played, Lambeau generated 24 touchdown passes, eight rushing touchdowns, and three touchdown receptions. In the illustrious franchise history of the Packers, it was Lambeau who not only got the team’s first touchdown pass but also propelled the team into the national spotlight.
Packers and Bears Rivalry Runs 98 Years and Counting
November 27, 1921 marks the inaugural meeting between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. On a 45-yard run, Bears running back Gaylord “Pete” Stinchcomb would score the first touchdown of the rivalry.
Thursday night the two teams will be meeting for the 199th time as they kickoff the 100th NFL season. Over the course of the NFL’s history, the Bears and the Packers have remained the model franchises both on and off the field.
Between the two organizations, they have won 22 world championships (13 for Green Bay, 9 for Chicago) putting the Packers and the Bears at number one and number two, respectively. Between the two teams 53 players are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, demonstrating the great players each franchise has produced.
The Bears will be immortalized for their defensive dominance, with players like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson and Wilber Marshall revolutionizing how to attack an offense from all angles.
The Packers innovated the jet sweep, providing the impetus for Vince Lombardi to lead Bart Starr, Anthony Munoz and the Green Bay offense to win the two first ever Super Bowls. The quarterback tree continued, with the championship-caliber success of Brett Favre and now Aaron Rodgers leading the charge for the Packers offense.
Packers vs. Bears: an Impeccable Celebration of Football
But in addition to their on the field prowess, the community involvement of both franchises transcends professional football. Walter Payton and Bart Starr, both on opposite ends of a heated rivalry, invested time away from football to better their communities. Their respective community awards handed out during the Super Bowl provide incentive to NFL players to use their platform in order to engage in long lasting philanthropic initiatives.
This is why it is perfect for the Bears and the Packers to kick off the NFL’s 100th season. Their championship pedigree, along with altruistic community service, make these two teams the constant source of rivalry and success in the NFL.
The sport of football has changed since these two teams first met in 1921. But the same fervor and passion in the Packers and Bears fan bases remains. The players will certainly feel the weight of history and enthusiasm when they step out onto the field Thursday.
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