Davante Adams Takes a Swipe at the Bears: Exploring the NFL’s Most Intense Rivalry

The historic rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears represents one of the most storied conflicts in professional sports, dating back over a century. When former Packers legend Davante Adams recently delivered an unfiltered assessment of the Bears franchise, he injected new intensity into this legendary feud. His blunt dismissal of ever playing for Chicago—”Never. Not even on my last days in this league”—offers a fascinating window into the psychological warfare that extends far beyond the football field. This article examines Adams’ controversial comments, the dominant Packers mentality that shaped them, their grounding in statistical reality, and what they reveal about player identity within the NFL’s most passionate rivalries.

The Mic-Drop Moment: “Never. Not Even on My Last Days”

The setting was FanDuel TV’s “Up & Adams” show, where host Kay Adams posed a seemingly straightforward question to Davante Adams: Could he ever envision himself playing for the Chicago Bears? The wide receiver’s response was immediate and visceral: “No… never… not even on my last days in this league. After all I’ve been blessed with? Nah” . This wasn’t the typical athlete cliché about never saying never, nor was it a diplomatic deflection. Instead, Adams delivered a raw, unfiltered dismissal that cut straight to the core of the Packers-Bears rivalry.

What makes this declaration particularly significant is its timing context. Professional athletes often soften their stance toward rivals as their careers wind down, frequently accepting final paychecks from former adversaries. By specifically ruling out this universal scenario, Adams emphasized that his aversion wasn’t about competitive considerations or financial incentives—it was about fundamental identity. The implication was stark: wearing navy and orange would somehow tarnish the legacy he built in green and gold, representing a betrayal of the Packers ethos that defined his most successful years . This wasn’t merely rejection; it was ideological repudiation rooted in a deep-seated team identity.

By the Numbers: Adams’ Dominance Against Chicago

More Than Just Games: The Packers vs. Bears Mentality

To dismiss Adams’ comments as mere individual opinion is to misunderstand the organizational culture that produced them. His sentiment reflects the distilled essence of a rivalry where, for nearly three decades, the Packers haven’t just beaten the Bears—they’ve often dominated them both on the scoreboard and in psychological warfare . This mentality permeated the Packers organization during Adams’ tenure, where players didn’t merely hope to beat Chicago; they expected to dominate, focusing less on whether they would win and more on how decisively they would prevail .

Adams elaborated on this mindset during his interview, revealing that the Packers’ approach to Bears games transcended normal competition: “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. Like, can I set a record? Can I score twice?” . This attitude of superiority wasn’t baseless arrogance; it was born from sustained competitive dominance that shaped how Packers players viewed their oldest rivals. The Bears became less a genuine threat than a measuring stick for personal achievement—a schedule fixture where statistical milestones were expected rather than merely hoped for .

The “Respect” Paradox: Acknowledging Existence, Denying Equality

In the aftermath of his controversial comments, Adams offered what appeared to be a moderating caveat—he respects all NFL teams . While this might seem like standard professional courtesy, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced reality. Adams immediately clarified the limitations of this respect when it comes to the Bears: “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” .

This distinction represents the crucial difference between acknowledging an opponent’s existence versus recognizing them as a competitive equal. Adams respects the Bears as an NFL franchise with history and tradition, but his comments explicitly deny them status as a “top-tier team” capable of consistently competing with the Packers powerhouse he was part of . This subtle differentiation cuts to the heart of why his comments sting for Chicago supporters—it’s not merely the rejection, but the dismissive categorization of their team as fundamentally inferior rather than competitively rivalrous. It’s the sporting equivalent of acknowledging someone’s effort while simultaneously declaring them unworthy of genuine competition .

Loyalty and Legacy: The Lasting Identity of a Packers Legend

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Adams’ comments is what they illuminate about player identity in professional sports. Despite having played for multiple franchises since leaving Green Bay—including the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets—Adams still identifies so profoundly with the Packers culture that he publicly rejects the idea of joining their oldest rival . This persistent allegiance demonstrates how team identities become ingrained in players who experience their most formative successes within a particular organization, especially one with such a strong cultural footprint as the Packers .

This loyalty dynamic highlights a fascinating asymmetry in the rivalry. While the Bears have occasionally signed former Packers players, the reverse movement for Green Bay legends remains virtually unthinkable . Adams’ “never” reinforces this psychological barrier, suggesting that putting on a Bears uniform would represent an irreconcilable breach of the Packers ethos that shaped his career. His stance implies that some rivalries create identities so powerful that they transcend the normal career mobility of professional sports, establishing boundaries that certain players won’t cross regardless of financial incentive or competitive circumstance . In an era of frequent team changes, such fierce loyalty to a former team’s rivalry culture stands as a testament to the enduring power of NFL tribalism.

The Evolution of a Rivalry: Adams’ More Recent Perspective

Interestingly, Adams’ position regarding the Bears has demonstrated some nuanced evolution since his original comments. In a more recent appearance on the Dan Patrick Show after joining the Los Angeles Rams, Adams struck a noticeably different tone: “Oh no. Honestly, I’ve met so many fans. I feel like I meet more in the NFC North now because they actually come forth and speak to me. So, I let them know. Yeah, it’s cool. We can actually be friends now. I don’t mind it. I’m still in the NFC now, but I’m not in the NFC North. I don’t hate the Bears anymore. That was just a thing that lasts while I’m there” .

This maturation offers fascinating insight into how player perspectives can shift once they’re no longer actively engaged in divisional warfare. Adams acknowledged that while with the Packers, Bears fans “don’t introduce themselves quite as much” , but the geographical and competitive distance afforded by his new NFC West location has softened the edges of the rivalry from his personal perspective. This evolution doesn’t negate his original comments but contextualizes them within the heated mentality of active participation in one of football’s most intense divisional battles. The hatred was real in the moment, but perhaps more situational than absolute—a product of the competitive environment rather than a permanent personal animosity .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When did Davante Adams make his original comments about never playing for the Bears?

Adams made his initial “never” declaration during a December 2024 appearance on the “Up & Adams” show while he was playing for the New York Jets . His more recent softened stance came during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show after signing with the Los Angeles Rams .

What was Adams’ record against the Bears during his Packers career?

The Packers compiled a dominant 13-2 record against Chicago during Adams’ tenure in Green Bay, giving him a staggering 87% win rate in the rivalry . This sustained success undoubtedly shaped his perception of the Bears as less than competitive equals.

Why would Adams never consider playing for Chicago?

Adams cited his deep identification with Packers culture, stating “naturally as a Packer, you hate the Bears” . His comments suggest that joining Chicago would feel like a betrayal of the legacy he built in Green Bay, representing a psychological barrier he wasn’t willing to cross .

How did the Bears organization respond to Adams’ comments?

Notably, there was no documented public response from the Chicago Bears organization, coaching staff, or players to Adams’ specific comments . This silence could indicate a preference to focus on internal development rather than engaging in media disputes .

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 and signing with the Los Angeles Rams .

Are the Bears-Packers still considered a premier NFL rivalry in 2025?

Absolutely. Despite periods of one-sided results, the Bears-Packers rivalry remains the NFL’s oldest and most storied feud, dating back to 1921 with over 200 meetings between the franchises . The historical significance continues to fuel passion among fans and players alike.

Conclusion

Davante Adams’ dismissal of the Bears represents more than just individual preference—it encapsulates the psychological dimensions of NFL rivalries where perception and reality continuously interact. His comments, grounded in statistical dominance and cultural identity, highlight how sustained competitive success breeds a mentality of superiority that can outlast actual roster changes or seasonal outcomes. Yet the evolution of his perspective also demonstrates how physical and emotional distance can soften even the most strongly held rivalries.

The true significance of Adams’ “swipe” lies in its revelation of sports tribalism at its most potent—where legacy and identity transcend uniform colors, and where the battles waged on psychological terrain can be as compelling as those fought on the gridiron. For the Chicago Bears organization and its faithful, Adams’ words serve not as a permanent indictment but as a challenge—a reminder that respect in the NFL is ultimately earned through consistent performance, and that changing narratives requires nothing less than reversing results on the field. The ball, as they say, remains in Chicago’s court to author a different future for this historic rivalry.