Davante Adams takes a swipe at the Bears with comments that honestly stunned me when he flat-out declared he would “never” play for Chicago during a December 2024 interview. I’ve watched this Green Bay-Chicago rivalry for years, and let me tell you – his unfiltered take perfectly captures what this historic feud feels like from the inside.
What Adams Actually Said About the Bears (And It Wasn’t Pretty)
When Kay Adams asked him point-blank on the “Up & Adams” show if he’d ever consider playing for the Bears, his response was ice cold:
“No. Never. Look, I’m not playing too much longer as it is, so on my last days in this league, after all I’ve been blessed with, I will not be going to Chicago.”
According to CBS Sports, he didn’t stop there.
Adams then revealed something that made Bears fans cringe – the Packers’ actual mindset when facing their supposed “rivals”:
“Back in the day, being a Packer playing the Bears, we didn’t go into that game ever worrying about ‘are we gonna win the game?’ We were thinking about how crazy we were gonna go in the game.”
Then came the real gut punch:
“Like, can I set a record? Can I score twice? Not to be disrespectful, it’s just naturally as a Packer, you hate the Bears. And we have respect for every team we play, but you just don’t respect them to the level of a top-tier team that can compete with us. So we went into it just ready to steamroll them.”
Ouch. That’s not your typical rivalry trash talk. That’s a star receiver essentially saying they never saw Chicago as a real threat.
The Numbers That Back Up Adams’ Bold Claims
Was Adams just talking big? I looked at the stats, and they tell the story:
- In 16 games against Chicago as a Packer, Adams caught 81 passes
- He piled up 1,024 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns against the Bears secondary
- Green Bay went a dominant 13-2 against Chicago during those years
- Adams recorded four 100+ yard games against the Bears
- The Packers regularly outscored Chicago by comfortable margins
These numbers from 2014-2021 show Adams wasn’t exaggerating. The Packers really did dominate this matchup during his time in Wisconsin, turning what should’ve been a competitive rivalry into basically a guaranteed win.
If you’ve watched recent Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings matchups, you can see Chicago is still working to rebuild its reputation across the NFC North.
Why Adams Still Feels This Way About Chicago in 2025
What makes these comments hit harder is when and where they came from.
Adams made these remarks in December 2024 while playing for the struggling New York Jets after being traded from the Las Vegas Raiders earlier that season. As Bleacher Nation reported, Adams had joined the Jets hoping to recapture magic with his former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Think about this – he was willing to play for other teams with serious problems, but drew a hard line at Chicago.
That tells me his feelings go way deeper than just avoiding a struggling franchise. His Packers identity is so baked in that putting on a Bears uniform would feel like betraying who he is as a player.
I’ve seen this in other NFL rivalries, but rarely this intense. While Ravens vs Chiefs matchups have developed into one of the league’s hottest new rivalries, they lack the century-old bad blood of Bears-Packers.
The Bears’ Response (Or Complete Lack Thereof)
The most telling part? Chicago said absolutely nothing back.
No response from the Bears organization, coaching staff, or any players to Adams’ brutal assessment. Total silence.
This could mean several things:
- They’re taking the high road and refusing to engage
- They’re focused on rebuilding rather than media feuds
- Deep down, they know there’s some truth to what he said
- Coach Matt Eberflus wants the team looking forward, not backward
According to TheScore, Bears figures have responded to other provocations before – like when Aaron Rodgers famously yelled “I still own you!” to Bears fans at Soldier Field. But with Adams? Nothing.
The silence speaks volumes.
How Fans Reacted to Adams Dismissing the Bears
NFL fans reacted exactly how you’d expect – split completely along team lines.
Bears fans on Reddit were a mix of:
- Angry but unable to really argue with the results
- Pointing out Adams was now on struggling teams himself
- Wondering if other players view Chicago the same way
- Some even admitting the painful truth in what he said
Packers fans, of course, loved it. They saw his comments as confirming what they already believed – that their team owned this rivalry during the 2010s.
Neutral NFL fans mostly shrugged and said “well, he’s not wrong” based on those years’ results.
How This Compares to Other NFL Rivalries in 2025
The Packers-Bears rivalry stands as the NFL’s oldest feud, dating back to 1921. But how does its current intensity stack up against today’s hottest rivalries?
In 2025, matchups like Chiefs vs Ravens and Bills vs Bengals generate more playoff implications and star power. However, they lack the century of history and hatred that fuels Packers-Bears.
What makes the Adams comments particularly relevant in 2025 is that they highlight how a once-balanced historic rivalry became so lopsided that players on one side completely dismissed the other – something you don’t see in today’s more competitive matchups like Cowboys vs Steelers.
What Adams’ Comments Reveal About NFL Players’ Mindsets
Adams’ brutal take shows something fascinating about NFL culture that fans rarely get to hear.
Even years after leaving Green Bay, playing for two different teams, Adams still identified so strongly with the Packers that he publicly rejected ever wearing a Bears uniform. That’s wild when you think about it.
For Chicago fans hoping to see their team rise again, comments like these must sting. But they also serve as a reminder of what the Bears need to do to earn back respect across the league.
I’ve followed the NFL for years, and these kind of unfiltered comments give us a rare glimpse into how players really view certain matchups – far from the sanitized press conference answers we usually get.
Why These Comments Still Matter in 2025
Adams’ dismissal of the Bears isn’t just old news. It still resonates in 2025 because:
- The power dynamic in the NFC North continues to evolve
- Bears fans remain hungry for revenge against their historic rivals
- These comments reveal the lasting psychological impact of team cultures
- Similar patterns emerge in other division rivalries across the league
- It shows how player identities remain tied to their most successful team experiences
In an era where players change teams more frequently than ever, Adams’ fierce loyalty to the rivalry culture of his former team stands out. It suggests that even as the business side of football grows, the tribalism of team identity remains powerful.
FAQs About Adams’ Bears Comments
When did Davante Adams make these comments about the Bears?
Adams made these comments during an appearance on the “Up & Adams” show hosted by Kay Adams on December 17, 2024, while he was playing for the New York Jets.
What was Adams’ record against the Bears during his Packers career?
The Packers went 13-2 against the Bears during Adams’ time in Green Bay (2014-2021), showing the dominance he referenced.
Did the Bears respond to Adams’ comments?
There was no documented public response from the Chicago Bears organisation, coaching staff, or players to Adams’ specific comments about never playing for Chicago.
Why would Adams never play for the Bears?
Adams cited his Packers background, saying “naturally as a Packer, you hate the Bears.” His comments suggest his identity formed in Green Bay created a psychological barrier that made playing for Chicago unthinkable for him.
Has Adams played for other teams since leaving the Packers?
Yes, after leaving Green Bay, Adams played for the Las Vegas Raiders (2022-mid 2024) and the New York Jets (mid 2024-early 2025) before being released by the Jets in March 2025.
How did Adams perform against the Bears during his time with Green Bay?
Adams recorded impressive statistics against Chicago, with 81 receptions, 1,024 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns in 16 games against the Bears.
Are the Bears-Packers still considered rivals in 2025?
Absolutely. Despite periods of one-sided results, the Bears-Packers rivalry remains the NFL’s oldest and most storied feud, dating back over a century with over 200 meetings between the teams.
What This Means for Football’s Oldest Rivalry Going Forward
NFL rivalries create identities that stick with players long after they switch teams or even retire.
Adams completely refusing to consider Chicago while joining other struggling teams shows just how deeply these rivalries get under a player’s skin.
For fans on both sides, his comments add another memorable chapter to the Bears-Packers story that’s been building since 1921.
When you look at recent matchup stats like those from the Bears vs Vikings game, you can see Chicago still has work to do in reclaiming respect in the NFC North.
Whether you think Adams was just being honest or unnecessarily harsh probably depends on which team you support. But one thing’s crystal clear: when Davante Adams takes a swipe at the Bears, it reminds us that in the NFL’s oldest rivalry, the emotions run way deeper than just what happens on game day.
