Chicago Bears take major step toward leaving city after more than a century as franchise makes Indiana plans

We could beryllium seeing nan extremity of an era unfold successful existent clip arsenic a bequest NFL franchise pinch a period of history successful its signature American metropolis is moving guardant pinch plans to time off town: The Bears are advancing their stadium improvement task successful Hammond, Indiana.

The squad announced Friday day that it has taken this important measurement toward pulling up stakes from Chicago and moreover nan authorities of Illinois.

The Bears' committee of board met connected Thursday, into nan evening, and voted to beforehand nan stadium improvement task successful Hammond, Indiana — pinch an nonstop stadium tract to beryllium selected.

"We judge a world-class stadium task successful Hammond will toggle shape nan region, connecting Northwest Indiana and nan South Side of Chicago done nan Loop and crossed nan neighborhoods and suburbs stretching northbound of nan city," Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren said successful a statement.

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"It will bring Chicagoland together and present caller opportunities to its residents and businesses."

This is nan first clip nan team's committee has voted connected a stadium site. So this is notable and significant, but an NFL root told Fox News location is simply a chance Illinois mightiness still beryllium capable to person nan squad to enactment successful nan state. Those chances were characterized arsenic requiring "a Hail Mary" governmental effort.

And this: That Hail Mary, moreover if it were to work, will still move nan nine retired of Chicago pinch nan only tract successful Illinois arsenic a apt landing spot being successful Arlington Heights, Ill.

Chicago Bears helmets are displayed earlier nan crippled against nan Las Vegas Raiders astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Paradise, Nev., connected Sept. 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

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The NFL has been gathering pinch some nan Bears and officials from some Illinois and Indiana successful nan past six months, and nan league's Stadium Committee is alert of nan latest determination by nan club.

"The nine has kept nan stadium committee and convention agency apprised of each developments," NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told ESPN successful a statement.

The NFL apparently has nary stated qualms astir nan Bears moving retired of Chicago. The New York Giants moved retired of New York and crossed authorities lines to New Jersey. They were followed by nan New York Jets.

The Raiders near Oakland for Los Angeles, past near Los Angeles, and are now successful Las Vegas. The Rams, similarly, near Los Angeles for St. Louis, past returned to L.A.

And nan St. Louis Cardinals are now nan Arizona Cardinals.

Chicago Bears president George H. McCaskey introduces caller Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren during a property convention astatine Halas Hall successful Chicago, Illinois, connected Jan. 17, 2023. (Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports)

New, shiny, money-producing stadiums person a measurement of luring NFL teams.

Chicago, and to a lesser degree, Illinois has not precisely been keen connected helping nan Bears build a new, shiny, money-producing stadium wrong their borders.

A "megaprojects" measure died successful nan Illinois legislature past Sunday. The connection would person allowed nan Bears to discuss payments successful lieu of paying spot taxes connected nan Arlington Heights, Illinois, spot they presently own.

At 11 p.m. Sunday, Illinois authorities Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) introduced nan authorities that would let Cook County cities pinch much than 70,000 residents (like Arlington Heights and Chicago) to create their ain sports stadium authority. The Bears would person past paid for nan building of nan caller stadium, which nan franchise has dedicated $2 cardinal successful backing toward.

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The measure would person fixed nan squad spot taxation certainty but it did not succeed.

Indiana passed akin authorities for nan Bears successful February, and nan measure was signed into rule by Governor Mike Braun.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker guidelines together during a property convention amid reports of national deployments to Chicago connected Sept. 2, 2025. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)

So arsenic it stands now, Chicago politician Brandon Johnson and J.B. Pritzker look, well, beautiful bad.

They are nan politicians who person either done inaction aliases mediocre readying failed to push done legislation to thief support nan Bears, first, successful Chicago, and secondly, successful nan authorities astatine all.

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They could rather perchance spell down arsenic nan politicians who oversaw nan departure of a franchise founded successful Illinois successful 1920 that was moved to Chicago by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and proprietor George Halas successful 1921.

Here we are complete a period later, and nan Bears person 1 ft retired nan doorway of some Chicago and Illinois.

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO