Packers kick up rivalry with Bears by poaching veteran player who had been in Chicago since 2014

The next time the Bears face the Packers, they're going to see a familiar face lining up at punter for Green Bay. 

According to NFL.com, former Bears punter Pat O'Donnell will be heading north after agreeing to terms on a deal with the Packers. According to ESPN.com, O'Donnell's two-year deal is worth a total of $4 million and includes $1.6 million in guarantees. O'Donnell is leaving Chicago after spending the past eight seasons with the Bears. 

In Green Bay, O'Donnell will be placing Corey Bojorquez, who only lasted one season with the Packers. When Green Bay acquired Bojorquez in a trade with the Rams last August, it seemed like he was destined to be the Packers punter of the future, but that changed after he struggled down the stretch to end the season. 

According to Packersnews.com, the Packers made the decision not to re-sign Bojorquez because he struggled to kick in cold weather and because they didn't really trust him as holder. 

From a punting perspective, Bojorquez's numbers cratered at the end of the season. During the first 11 weeks of the year, Bojorquez averaged more than 46 yards per punt in nine of 11 games. However, over the final stretch of the year, Bojorquez averaged under 43 yards per punt in four of Green Bay's final six games. 

Bojorquez also played a key part in the Packers' playoff loss to San Francisco when the 49ers blocked one of his punts and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Green Bay's stunning 13-10 loss. 

As for holding, Mason Crosby saw his numbers tank after Bojorquez took over as holder. In 2020, without Bojorquez, Crosby finished 16-for-16 on field goals, making him one of just five kickers in NFL history to have hit 100% of his field goals in a season where they attempted 15 or more. 

With Bojorquez, Crosby hit just 73.5% of his field goals in 2021, which was the third-worst percentage for any kicker who attempted 15 field goals or more last season. 

Although Bojorquez put up slightly better punting numbers than O'Donnell in 2021 (46.5 to 46.2 punting average and 40.0 to 38.5 net punting average), the Packers clearly wanted to get a veteran who could punt in cold weather and hold for their kicker. O'Donnell might not put up eye-popping numbers, but he will likely give the Packers what they're looking for.