A New Era. Chicago Bears Have Their Next Team President
The Chicago Bears are going through many changes this off-season. It isn’t limited to the roster, either. After more than 20 years serving as team president, Ted Phillips will enter retirement in 2023. That kicked off a search by ownership to find his replacement. They cast a wide net, meeting with multiple candidates. However, one quickly emerged head and shoulders above the rest. That was Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren. Reports were he had the desire to get back into the NFL. There are few more prestigious positions he could’ve asked for. Now it’s becoming official, according to Ian Rapoport.
Warren was widely considered one of the most powerful men in college football. He’d conducted some major deals for the Big Ten during his tenure, including a massive new TV deal with NBC while adding power programs USC and UCLA to the conference. It was a shock to many that he’d leave such a cushy job. However, those with close ties to him knew Warren wanted to get back into the NFL. He spent several years in the league from 1997 through 2019 between the Rams, Lions, and Vikings.
Warren is exactly what the Chicago Bears need.
Not only is he experienced in how to run a football organization, but he also understands how to handle the process of building a new stadium. Many say he was instrumental in helping the Minnesota Vikings establish their widely-regarded U.S. Bank Stadium. That makes him uniquely accomplished to handle the Bears’ transition to Arlington Park over the next few years. What makes this hire even better is it establishes the only NFL franchise with two men of color in the top positions of power. Warren will be the team president and Ryan Poles is the GM. The McCaskey family deserves credit for such progressive thinking.
What makes this even more encouraging is Warren’s track record. He’s used to success. It seems to follow him wherever he goes. He was with the Rams when they won the Super Bowl in 1999. Then during his long run with Minnesota, they reached the NFC championship in 2009 and 2017. The Big Ten has sent representatives to the College Football Playoffs every year. He knows what it takes to build a successful organization. The Chicago Bears really did well with this hire.