Make no mistake. When the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are both relevant, the NFL's oldest rivalry seldom disappoints.
The fans hate each other. The coaches hate each other. The players hate each other. Shoot, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that even the equipment managers and ticket sales people for both squads have genuine venom for one another. It's good old-fashioned sports hatred, befitting rivalry energy we simply don't see as much of as we should these days.
After the Packers' convincing 31-7 win over the Bears on Sunday, Chicago receiver Luther Burden III and Green Bay linebacker Zaire Franklin provided us with the latest episode of petty animosity between the NFL's original two teams. In the postgame locker room, Franklin called out Burden for trash-talking the Packers in the lead-up.
In an extended rant about Burden's trash talk being an apparent greater symptom of the Bears being way too arrogant, Franklin said Burden (four catches, 47 yards) did a lot of talking for someone who has "never really made a real play in this league" before claiming that the Packers' defense made Burden quit before the end of the game. Hmm, I don't know about that lofty assertion that Burden is some forgettable nobody, but hoo boy, that's the good stuff.
That's a man who does not like a player on his archrival and who is responding to a rivalry in a manner we should all appreciate:
Full Zaire Franklin quote on Luther Burden: "We see all the little weird stuff they be doing in the media and all the different stuff they be saying. You got guys that never really made a real play in this league talkin' 'bout making somebody quit. That's weird. We don't do that.… https://t.co/43O762YqFh
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 11, 2026
The Bears and Packers will next play on Christmas Day in Chicago. In case this past Sunday wasn't petty or emotionally charged enough for you, the next matchup should also feature both Caleb Williams and Micah Parsons, arguably the best players on the respective teams. Ho hum.
Under normal circumstances, I would say get your popcorn ready. In this case, I think it's more about being ready to pull some receipts.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Packers LB called out Luther Burden III for writing checks he couldn't cash