Chicago Bears

Vikings win National Hug Day in NFC North

Published Jan. 22, 2016 8:54 a.m. ET

foxsports

Thursday was National Hug Day, and all four NFC North teams celebrated on Twitter with the hashtag #NationalHugDay. By the end of the day, one team had clearly outdone the rest.

The Detroit Lions were the first to recognize National Hug Day, and they did so by celebrating the bromance between quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson with a couple of GIFs.

Via the Lions' official Twitter account:

#NationalHugDay pic.twitter.com/Y35de3yjkC
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 21, 2016

#NationalHugDay pic.twitter.com/qk5fSU0NK6
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 21, 2016

You'll be hard pressed to find a former Bulldog and a former Yellow Jacket who embrace as often as these two do.

The Green Bay Packers responded with a big bear hug between defensive tackle tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews.

Via the Packers' official Twitter account:

#NationalHugDay #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/Kvne9zqYfJ
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) January 21, 2016

That's perfect hug-and-lift form from the big man.

The Bears had the most touching post of the day. They retweeted Jarrett Payton, son of running back Walter Payton, hugging his father at his Hall of Fame induction in 1993.

Via Jarrett Payton's verified Twitter account:

With it being #NationalHugDay and #TBT, I take it back to 93 @ProFootballHOF. #Love pic.twitter.com/iN9EzizioU
— Jarrett W. Payton (@paytonsun) January 21, 2016

Walter Payton, the Bears' all-time leading rusher, died of cancer in 1999.

The Minnesota Vikings saved the best for last, as they posted a GIF of a different kind of "hug."

Via the Vikings' official Twitter account:

The #Vikings prefer to give hugs in the backfield. #NationalHugDay pic.twitter.com/FUULivjvOH
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 22, 2016

It doesn't look like Bears quarterback Jay Cutler particularly wanted that hug from defensive linemen Sharrif Floyd, Danielle Hunter and Kenrick Ellis. He got it anyway.