Bears Send Green Bay Packing With Comeback for the Ages – RedState

I was born in Chicago and spent my first nine years there, and although I don’t return often, I remember those early years fondly. We lived in the heart of the city, a few blocks from the John Hancock Building (now known simply as “875 North Michigan Avenue,” but it will always be “Big John” to me), and yet it seemed almost suburban: we played in the street, rode our bikes, and raced to the park, without adult supervision. Those were the times.

Yes, it was damn cold, but we made do.

My first live sporting event was at Soldier Field, where we sat frozen in our seats watching the beloved Bears get crushed, as was usually the case. A few years later, after a bet with my father, I got to watch the Monsters of the Midway crush the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX in 1986 by a score of 46-10. It could have been worse for the Pats, but Coach Ditka let them get away with it easily.

It was a story that went far beyond football:

Memories: How Dad and I ended up at the 1986 Super Bowl watching the greatest defense of all time (VIP)

Not much has gone right for the Bears since then, unless you count the 2007 Super Bowl, where the Bears somehow qualified despite having Rex Grossman at signal-caller, a QB whose hot streaks could turn into cold spells in the blink of an eye. They were easily eliminated by Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts, and it’s been nothing but heartbreak ever since.

So many heartbreaking memories like this:

ICYMI: The defending Super Bowl champions go after the Bears after Cody Parkey’s game-winning FG attempt was overthrown, hit the post AND the crossbar.

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/vg78mX3GSj

– Sports Center (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2019

So it was with some trepidation that I sat down Saturday night to watch them take on the fearsome Green Bay Packers in the first round of the playoffs. Sure, the Da Bears were 11-6, but did anyone really believe they were the real deal? As if to remind everyone that Ditka had long left the building, they quickly dug themselves into a 21-6 hole and looked like the NFL version of the Keystone Cops. “I ordered pizza,” I texted my punter friends. “I wish I could cancel it. ☹️”

They trailed by 18 points at halftime and showed nothing that indicated they could change the direction they were headed.

Yes, you could rightly blame me for my lack of faith – because I was wrong, so wrong. The Bears were a completely different team in the second half and completed the greatest playoff comeback in their 107-year history. It’s plays like this one from USC alumnus Caleb Williams that sent frigid fans into delirium:

It was the most significant blow of Caleb Williams’ life

Season on the line, rolling to his left and threading the needle with 4 Green Bay defenders in the zone

This is why he was the first overall pick

Truly an incredible comeback for Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears pic.twitter.com/q3QW5TBGk8

-Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbott) January 11, 2026

And another gem with 1:48 left:

DJ FREAKING MOORE 💫

📺: @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/igTC04pKXw

– Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 11, 2026

Williams looked like a third-down player on a bad team for most of the first half, throwing ball after ball a few yards from his receiver or straight into the ground, but then he heated up in the second half and did this:

Caleb Williams just had the most passing yards in a playoff game in Bears history. pic.twitter.com/ZjfX0KHyud

– Real App (@realapp) January 11, 2026

Although the defense certainly wasn’t up to par with the 1985 Bears, they stiffened in the second half and, for the most part, shut down QB Jordan Love and the Pack.

We regularly report bad news from the Windy City – the endless killings, their far-left mayor who cares more about promoting extremist policies than keeping his citizens safe, the odious governor of Illinois who has never met an illegal immigrant to whom he didn’t want to hand over taxpayer money, and so on.

But tonight was a night for the ages, a night for Chicagoans and former residents to celebrate. I’m not saying they’re going to win the Super Bowl, but watching the rival Packers take it on the chin will always be satisfying.

CALEB WILLIAMS GRATING CHEESE ON LIVE TV IS EVIL.

😭😭😭

LEGENDARY. pic.twitter.com/MVKV3BJ1xs https://t.co/ydko2hd8Yz

–MLFootball (@MLFootball) January 11, 2026

My pizza ended up being pretty damn good.

Relive every moment:

Editor’s note: RedState isn’t just your go-to source for politics and news – we also cover culture, sports and nature.

Become a member of the RedState team. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership today.