GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — Posted January 14, 2026
The Green Bay Packers’ heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bears didn’t just end a playoff run — it unleashed a wave of pressure that swept through Green Bay almost instantly.
From sports radio to local bars around Lambeau Field, frustration poured out as fans tried to process how a season built on promise collapsed in a rivalry game with everything on the line.
Amid that backlash, a young Packers standout made a quiet but telling decision: he deleted all of his social media accounts in the aftermath of the loss.
That player was Matthew Golden.
Golden, who had delivered one of his strongest performances late in the season, later acknowledged how overwhelming the moment felt as criticism arrived all at once.
“I’m still in shock over how everything ended,” Golden said. “The noise, the criticism — it all hits you at the same time, and it can feel overwhelming.”
In Green Bay, belief quickly turned into scrutiny. Fans and analysts questioned execution, missed opportunities, and an offense that never fully found its rhythm against the Bears when it mattered most.
For Golden, stepping away from social media became a way to regain perspective — not avoidance, but reflection.
“Sometimes you have to step back, take a deep breath, and ask yourself if you did enough,” Golden added. “If you really gave everything you had for this team.”
The reaction around the city leaned more toward disappointment than anger. The expectations attached to the green and gold are heavy, especially for a young player navigating his first playoff loss under a national spotlight.
Matthew Golden with the quick post and delete 🤣 pic.twitter.com/qpDHrAjuaq
— John Egan (@BrewersRaptor) January 13, 2026
Still, loyalty remains deeply rooted in Packers culture. Even amid frustration, fans continue to stand by the team, believing growth often comes from moments like this.
Now, with Lambeau Field quiet and the offseason beginning, Golden’s reset away from timelines and comment sections marks the first step forward — a pause to reflect, refocus, and prepare for what comes next in Green Bay.
