On Thursday, Chicago Bears CEO/president Kevin Warren released a statement claiming the team was committed to finishing the due diligence necessary to “support” the vision of building a new stadium near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.
That statement might have landed Warren in hot water.
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Warren praised Indiana for its efforts to ready and pass legislation that would help the Bears build in the state.
“We appreciate the leadership shown by Governor Braun, Speaker Huston, Senator Mishler and members of the Indiana General Assembly in establishing this critical framework and path forward to deliver a premier venue for all of Chicagoland and a destination for Bears fans and visitors from across the globe,” Warren wrote.
“We value our partnership and look forward to continuing to build our working relationship together.”
Not long after Warren released his statement, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker expressed his frustration with the statement. He claimed to have had a productive meeting with Bears representatives on Wednesday, though Pritzker dropped a bombshell that Warren was not in attendance for the meeting.
Pritzker suggested Warren’s statement indicated the Bears were moving ahead with Indiana. Pritzker wanted to assure the public that Illinois was very much still in the running to have a new stadium built in Arlington Heights.
Per George Ofman, Bears owner George McCaskey was “livid” with Warren after the release went public.
“Is Kevin Warren in hot water? Told Bears owner George McCaskey is livid with his president and CEO for his handling of Thursday’s series of events,” Ofman posted. “What a colossal mess this has turned out to be. That said, Arlington Heights is still very much in the picture.”
Is Kevin Warren in hot water? Told Bears owner George McCaskey is livid with his president and CEO for his handling of Thursday’s series of events. What a colossal mess this has turned out to be. That said, Arlington Heights is still very much in the picture.
— George Ofman (@georgeofman) February 21, 2026
The Chicago Bears were upset with Kevin Warren
Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren looks on against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
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Shane Riordan confirmed Ofman’s report that the McCaskey family was upset, but did suggest the Bears aren’t planning to fire Warren. The team appears to still want to build in Arlington Heights, despite Indiana moving quickly to try and land the Bears.
“I don’t know if George and I talk to the same person, but this is absolutely true,” Riordan posted on X. “Kevin Warren isn’t going anywhere, but the McCaskey family is very, very angry. They will still be moving to Arlington Heights, but this situation has left quite a burn.”
The Bears hired Warren in the hopes that the CEO could get a new stadium built. Warren wanted shovels in the ground by the end of 2025.
That obviously didn’t happen, and Warren is trying to use whatever leverage he can to make progress in 2026.
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