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.
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Tom waddle. Where were you on that drubbing story about your bestie from Detroit!?!? Maybe yall should be looking for a new GM and spend your #1 on a new QB. Aaron is a choke artist. Same amount of NFC championships as who, that’s right. Rex Grossman.
Who cares if he’s a person of color. Success isn’t determined by skin color. Pro sports is a meritocracy. If dude can’t get it done he needs to go. Like everyone else.
Hope this is the right move. Ive got some reservations about Warren. Ive got friends in the Minneapolis area that are the know regarding the Vikings. They’ve told me that Warren was extremely pushy and aggressive towards Spielman & other upper level mgmt when he didnt get his way. He’s definitely a power seeker. I know this will be an improvement over Phillips. (Most hires would be) But, what happens when Warren doesn’t get what he wants? Im concerned about Warren staying on his side of the hallway and leaving football things to Poles, while he handles the business end… Read more »
Tom Waddle – Gotta hand it to you as you sure like to work people up. You do excel at that! I could only surmise that you must enjoy from some kind of weird gratification from doing so but only you would know. I do enjoy laughing at you, your comments and down voting them for some strange reason.
This part of the story is complete garbage…”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.” Why does it matter what color these two men are? Literally the only thing that matters is they were the two best candidates for the positions, if that was the hiring criteria was that they needed to be a certain sex, gender, race, and etc. etc. etc. that… Read more »