ROCKFORD, Ill. — The Super Bowl played out on the massive screens at Hard Rock Casino Rockford on Sunday night, but the real heat came from the stage. Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Dan Hampton didn’t mince words, standing alongside Green Bay Packers legend Frank Winters and declaring a massive shift in the NFC North power dynamic: The Bears are in control.
The Monsters of the Midway Return?
Fans packed the casino floor, split between the navy blue of Chicago and the green and gold of Green Bay, to watch the NFL’s finale with two men who defined the rivalry decades ago. Hampton, a cornerstone of the ’85 Bears defense, seized the moment to hype up Chicago’s resurgence in the 2025-26 cycle.
“Guess what? The Bears are back on top of the NFC North,” Hampton told the roaring crowd. He pointed to the struggles of division rivals, likely alluding to the inconsistency that plagued the Vikings and Lions down the stretch. “All the other teams have a lot of issues. Right now, the Bears are in the driver’s seat. Nobody really saw that coming.”
It was a bold claim on a night celebrating football history, but Hampton’s confidence mirrors the growing optimism in Chicago following a season where the defense finally found its teeth again.
“It’s the oldest rivalry in the NFL, and it looks like this tradition is going to continue for years on. Playing in the NFC North is a tough division, and you’ve got to bring your game every week.” — Frank Winters, Super Bowl XXXI Champion
Playoff Implications: The 2026 Outlook
Hampton’s “driver’s seat” comment isn’t just alumni bluster; it sets the table for a volatile 2026 offseason. If the Bears have indeed stabilized their quarterback situation and solidified the trenches as Hampton implies, the balance of power in the NFC North has officially flipped. Green Bay faces a critical few months to retool their roster to keep pace with a Chicago squad that—according to the “Danimal”—is done rebuilding and ready to rule.
