The NFL season has yet to begin, but it seems like some players are already fanning the flames of a well-known rivalry. On Sunday, Chicago Bears rookies Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were enjoying a night out in Old Crow, Chicago, when chants of “Green Bay Sucks” suddenly broke out. Williams and Odunze seemed to be enjoying the whole thing, even raising their arms to the rhythm of the chants. Here's the video below, per The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov.
Settling in Chicago: Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are enjoying the "Green Bay sucks" chants.
Of course, knowing the historic rivalry of the Bears and the Green Bay Packers, this didn't sit well with the Wisconsin-based fandom. A number of X users took offense to the clip, and they weren't shy in letting their thoughts be known.
Whenever they meet on the field, the Bears and the Packers always put on intense battles, much to the enjoyment of football fans. It's no surprise, considering the history between both teams. As one of the most storied rivalries in the history of the league, the Chicago-Green Bay saga has been going on for decades.
Dating back to 1921, the Bears have a 95-107 record against their rivals. Six games have resulted in a tie. In terms of championships, Chicago has won a total of nine NFL titles, one of which is a Super Bowl. The Packers, on the other hand, have four Super Bowls, comprising nearly a third of their 13 championships.
Can Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze close the gap between both franchises? It won't be easy, but the rookies arguably have the potential to make a lasting impact on the Bears (if all goes well).
More on Williams and Odunze, the Bears' top rookies
Being the number one pick of the 2024 draft, Williams faces a lot of pressure in terms of elevating the Bears to another level. It remains to be seen how he'll perform, but his collegiate resume is more than promising. An AP College Player of the Year winner, Williams started his career in Oklahoma before transferring to USC for the 2022 season. As a sophomore, he threw for 42 touchdowns and 4,537 yards, while adding 10 more scores by running the ball. He was eventually awarded the 2022 Heisman Trophy. Through three years in the NCAA, Williams amassed a total of 10,082 passing yards and 93 passing touchdowns.
As for Odunze, the wideout spent four years in Washington, where he and his team managed a National Championship appearance last year. As a senior, Odunze tallied 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in 92 catches, averaging 17.8 yards per reception. He was a consensus All-American in 2023. Additionally, Odunze was also named to the All-Pac-12 team twice (2022,2023).
Besides Williams and Odunze, the Bears have added other key pieces to boast a formidable offense this 2024. With Keenan Allen and D'Andre Swift entering the picture, Caleb Williams will have plenty of weapons to utilize come September. In other words, the upcoming clashes with the Packers will undoubtedly be fireworks.
