Packers' Franklin claps back at Bears' Burden: 'He quit'

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Zaire Franklin #44 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after a play during the third quarter of the NFL football game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on October 11, 2026 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Zaire Franklin kept receipts.

The Green Bay Packers linebacker fired back at Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III for comments he made ahead of Sunday's NFC North clash.

"We just want to beat them real bad and make them quit," Burden said last week, per FOX 29 Philadelphia's Jeff Skversky.

Franklin got the last laugh as the Packers earned a resounding 31-7 victory at Lambeau Field.

"We see all the little weird stuff they be doing in the media and all the different stuff they be saying," Franklin told reporters postgame, including The Athletic's Matt Schneidman. "You got guys that never really made a real play in this league talkin' 'bout making somebody quit. That's weird. We don't do that. He quit today, by the way. He ain't wanna play anymore."

Burden later responded to Franklin's remarks on X.

The Packers' defense limited Burden to 49 yards from scrimmage on eight touches.

Franklin, meanwhile, contributed nine total tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in his first appearance in the Packers-Bears rivalry. He was traded to Green Bay in the offseason after spending the last eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

Bears head coach Ben Johnson cranked up the rivalry's intensity last postseason after going viral for saying "f--- the Packers" during a postgame locker room speech following Chicago's 31-27 wild-card victory over Green Bay. Johnson doubled down afterward by telling reporters, "I don't like that team."

Johnson and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shooks hands postgame Sunday but didn't appear to exchange words.

The Bears and Packers will meet again Christmas Day in Chicago.

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