The McCaskey family owns the Chicago Bears, at least on paper.
The family’s ownership dates back to when George Halas founded the franchise in September 1920.
However, for the past 30-ish years, Green Bay Packers quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers have “owned” the Bears.
Let’s look at three reasons why Rodgers and the Packers have dominated the “Monsters of the Midway” ahead of Sunday night’s game, which is the oldest rivalry in the NFL.
3. Aaron Rodgers’ Career Record Against The Bears
Including the playoffs, Rodgers has a 22-5 record as a starting quarterback against the Bears.
In Rodgers’ 26 regular-season games against the Bears, he is 545-of-815 passing for 6,208 yards and 57 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions, and has a quarterback rating of 107.7.
Rodgers was efficient during the Packers’ 24-14 win against the Bears in Week 6 at Soldier Field.
The nine-time Pro Bowler completed 17-of-23 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Rodgers went full heel on a six-yard touchdown run with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Packers.
BAD MAN. @AaronRodgers12
📺: #GBvsCHI on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/lHghsq962t— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021
In advance of Sunday’s primetime game, Rodgers doubled down, telling media members he didn’t regret his celebration.
Aaron Rodgers on his "I own you" comment in Chicago: "At some point, it will be used against me. It is what it is. I don't regret saying it at all."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) December 8, 2021
Rodgers’ statement isn’t wrong.
The Bears are 3-18 against the Packers since George McCaskey became the chairman of the organization in 2011.
2. January 2011 NFC Championship Win
Rodgers has ended the Bears season twice at Soldier Field.
The Packers beat the Bears 21-14 on January 23, 2011, in the NFC Championship Game to advance to and eventually win Super Bowl XLV.
In the conference title game, Bears fans were irate with Jay Cutler, who got sidelined in the third quarter due to a knee sprain.
Backup quarterback Todd Collins played two series, and then got benched in favor of third-stringer Caleb Hanie, who rallied the Bears back.
However, Hanie was unable to secure the win for the Bears.
In the 2013 regular-season finale, the Packers (8-7-1) beat the Bears (8-8) by a final score of 33-28 to secure the NFC North championship and prevent Chicago from making the playoffs.
The game’s deciding score came on Rodgers’ 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in the final minute of the game on a fourth-and-8.
Aaron Rodgers has thrown 44 TDs to Randall Cobb in his career.
Including this one in 2013…4th-and-8 with 46 seconds left on the clock in a Week 17 matchup with the Bears.
The winner wins the NFC North Championship… pic.twitter.com/ijw9t4hIqy
— Covers (@Covers) July 28, 2021
1. NFC North Dominance
Since Rodgers became the Packers’ full-time starter in 2008, the Packers have won the division seven out of 13 times.
During that span, the Packers have made the playoffs 10 times while the Bears have made the postseason three times.
While Rodgers expressed his frustration with the Packers’ executives this past offseason, it’s clear the NFC North runs through Green Bay.
If Rodgers thinks Green Bay’s front office is inept, what does that say about Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota?
In the offseason when the Denver Broncos were among the teams favored to land Rodgers, it didn’t make sense, especially considering he would have to play both Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice per season.
Rodgers’ contract runs through the 2023 season, but the Packers have a potential out with the 38-year-old in 2022.
It’s anyone’s guess whether Rodgers will finish his career in Green Bay.
Time will tell.
NEXT: Aaron Rodgers Should Not Apologize For His Chicago Trash Talk