Football rivalries usually grow from decades of geography or playoff heartbreak. Think Packers versus Bears. Or Cowboys versus the world. But the Chicago Bears vs Panthers dynamic is weird. It’s a modern, synthetic rivalry built almost entirely on the back of a single, franchise-altering trade.
Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating.
Usually, when a team trades away the number one overall pick, they’re the ones sweating. Not in this case. When Ryan Poles sent the 2023 top pick to Carolina, he didn't just get a few players; he basically hit the "fast forward" button on a rebuild.
The Trade That Still Haunts Charlotte
You can’t talk about these two teams without mentioning "The Trade."
In March 2023, the Panthers decided they were tired of the quarterback carousel. They wanted their guy. They moved heaven and earth—and a star receiver—to get to the top of the draft.
What did the Bears get? A lot.
- DJ Moore (The undisputed heart of the deal)
- The 9th overall pick in 2023 (Darnell Wright)
- A 2nd rounder in 2023 (Tyrique Stevenson)
- The 2024 1st rounder (Which became Caleb Williams)
- A 2025 2nd rounder
Basically, the Bears didn't just beat the Panthers on the field. They used the Panthers' own struggles to build a roster around a generational quarterback prospect.
What Happened During the Last Chicago Bears vs Panthers Game?
The most recent meeting in October 2024 felt less like a game and more like a coronation. The Bears won 36-10. It wasn't even that close.
Caleb Williams looked like a seasoned vet, throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target? DJ Moore. Moore didn't just catch passes; he took out his frustrations on his former team with 105 yards and two scores.
Talk about a revenge game.
Carolina actually jumped out to a 7-0 lead early on a Chuba Hubbard touchdown run. It was the only highlight for them. The Bears then rattled off 30 unanswered points.
One stat that really sticks out: the Bears defense held the Panthers to a measly 25% success rate on third downs. That’s a recipe for a blowout.
Why the Quarterback Comparison Matters
People love to compare Caleb Williams and Bryce Young.
It's natural. Young was the guy the Panthers traded everything for. Williams was the guy the Bears got because the Panthers were bad.
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Early on, the gap looked massive. While Williams was posting a 126.2 passer rating—the highest by a Bears rookie since 1970—Young was struggling to find his footing, eventually getting benched for veteran Andy Dalton before regaining his spot later.
The DJ Moore Factor
If you ask a Panthers fan what hurts the most, it’s not the lost draft picks. It’s seeing Moore in a Bears jersey.
Moore was the soul of the Carolina offense for years. He was the guy who produced 1,100-yard seasons with a rotating cast of mediocre quarterbacks.
In Chicago, he’s become the security blanket for a rookie. Watching him moss defenders in the same stadium where he used to be the hero is a tough pill for Carolina to swallow.
Looking Ahead: Is This Still a "Rivalry"?
Sorta.
It's a rivalry of consequences. Every time the Panthers lose, the Bears' front office probably smiles a little bit. That’s because the 2025 second-round pick they still own from Carolina gets better with every defeat.
But things are shifting. By late 2025 and into 2026, Bryce Young started showing those flashes of why he was the top pick in the first place. The Panthers' front office has been aggressive in adding pieces like Tetairoa McMillan to give him a fighting chance.
The lopsided nature of this matchup might not last forever.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following this matchup, keep an eye on these specific areas for the next time they meet:
- The Trenches: Darnell Wright (acquired in the trade) has become a brick wall. How the Panthers' edge rushers handle him is a direct measurement of the trade's ROI.
- Secondary Play: Tyrique Stevenson (another trade piece) is a ball hawk. He loves to bait young quarterbacks into bad throws.
- Narrative Fatigue: The media will talk about the trade until the heat death of the universe. Block out the noise and watch the actual scheme; the Bears' defense under Matt Eberflus is the real reason they've dominated this series lately.
The Chicago Bears vs Panthers storyline is a reminder that in the NFL, one phone call in March can change the trajectory of two franchises for a decade. The Bears took the gamble of moving down, and right now, they're playing with house money.
Pay attention to how the Panthers' young core develops. If Bryce Young continues his late-career resurgence, that "worst trade ever" label might finally start to fade. Until then, Soldier Field remains a house of horrors for the team from Carolina.
Check the latest injury reports before their next clash. Specifically, look for the health of the offensive lines. In their last meeting, Carolina's line was decimated by injuries, which made life impossible for whoever was under center.
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Keep an eye on the 2025 draft results as well. That final 2nd round pick from the trade is the last piece of the puzzle for Chicago. Once that player is on the field, the "Trade Era" officially moves into the "Result Era."