The question didn’t arise during a heated exchange or after a particularly tough practice rep. It arrived casually, almost harmlessly, and still managed to underline just how personal this weekend feels inside the Chicago Bears locker room. With the playoffs back in Chicago, even family relationships become part of the rivalry.
Cole Kmet Balances Family Loyalty and Rivalry Intensity Before Playoff Showdown
The Bears host the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, and this meeting carries real weight. This is not a ceremonial rivalry game. The Bears earned the NFC North title the hard way, closing the season with authority and taking control of the division after a December 7 win over the Packers that felt more like a statement than an upset.
That game mattered because of how it looked. The Bears were composed. They dictated the pace. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams did not chase big plays. He managed moments. That confidence has only grown since, and it shows in how this team talks and moves as it heads into the postseason.
Tight end Cole Kmet found himself at the center of the week’s lighter storyline, though it still cuts close to home. His sister, Frankie Kmet, is dating Lukas Van Ness, meaning this playoff game splits loyalty right down the middle.
Asked who his sister would be rooting for, Kmet leaned into the rivalry with a grin.
“I don’t know, I don’t talk to her during Packer week, so I’ll find out after the game… No, no, I’m kidding. Well, she did ask for tickets, and I just sent her the tickets, so I didn’t really respond to anything else besides that,” he said.
The follow-up revealed more about Kmet than the punchline. When asked why Frankie asked him for tickets instead of Van Ness, Kmet replied, “They wanted the better seats, that’s why. I had to help my sister out. No, all kidding aside, but I usually find that out after the game. Usually, she’s just, she’s happy to see both of us healthy and all that.”
That tone matches the Bears’ current mindset. Loose, but serious. Focused, but not tight. Chicago has not hosted a playoff game since 2020, and Soldier Field is expected to be loud from the start.
How the Bears handle that first wave of emotion is the most significant early test.
For the Packers, Van Ness enters his third season with 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Numbers do not solely measure his impact. The Packers need him to disrupt timing and create chaos up front, especially on early downs.
Three things matter most on Saturday. The Bears’ ability to control tempo, their discipline in a rivalry environment, and whether the Bears can force the Packers to play from behind. Kmet’s jokes aside, this is about leverage.
Win this, and the Bears do more than advance. Chicago is ranked 10th while the Packers are ranked 7th in the PFSN Offense Impact metrics. They reinforce that the rivalry has shifted, at least for now.