Austin Booker and the Chicago Bears heard all of the noise. And then, they quieted it, at least until next season. For Booker in particular, Saturday’s Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers featured another flashpoint moment, but also the ultimate vindication.
Booker was a hot-button subject among the Packers, and he will likely remain one throughout the offseason, which began on Saturday for the visiting team.
They were certainly making him feel them, but Booker also returned the favor.
Bears’ Austin Booker Gets Honest About Packers After Wild Card Win
Austin Booker Noticed ‘Pressure’ From Packers During Bears’ Win
Several Bears, including Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson, noted that the Packers had a lot to say during the week. Booker did not give it as much thought. He did notice that there was some intention behind the attention that he received during this meeting.
“That guard was head on a swivel, trying to knock me out every play,” Booker told Clocker Sports after the game. “Getting doubled and chipped the whole game. So, yeah, I definitely felt the pressure. But that shit don’t faze me. I just keep going.”
Booker finished with 6 total tackles and 1 sack on Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
It was Booker’s hit on Love in Week 14 that led to the Packers QB suffering a concussion and missing the rest of that contest and two others, including their rematch in Week 16.
Still, that hit was among the items Packers players spoke candidly about wanting to exact revenge against the Bears over. There was another instance in this game, which is sure to keep that flame lit for the Packers until next season.
But the Bears did not take their comments in the lead-up to the game lightly.
Booker downplayed all of it, telling Clocker Sports, “Me personally, I kind of have a self, internal motivation. Just how I play every game.”
As they await the results of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card tilt between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, the second-year defensive end also knows that the Bears are battle-tested, snapping their two-game streak to end the regular season with a playoff win.
“We all just gotta go out next week and execute,” Booker told Clocker Sports.
The Bears will face either the Eagles or the Los Angeles Rams. LA defeated the Carolina Panthers in their Wild Card tilt on Saturday.
The Bears defeated the Eagles in Week 3 of this season and the Rams in Week 4 of last season. All three teams are much different this season. Either way, the Bears will get to play host. Their record at home improved to 7-2 this season, including their Wild Card win.
Bears Get Bad News in Win Over Packers
As much as the Bears are celebrating, they must also make plans to compensate for the loss of two starters. Left tackle Ozzy Trapilo and linebacker T.J. Edwards (ankle) both emerged from the game with season-ending injuries.
They have been without both players at different times this season, though.
D’Marco Jackson stepped in for Edwards while Theo Benedet replaced Trapilo, one of three Bears second-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.