The Chicago Bears have now endured back-to-back brutal losses. First, a blowout in Green Bay 41-25 followed by an epic collapse at Soldier Field against Detroit. They went from leading 30-20 with five minutes left to losing 34-30. If that doesn’t sum up this entire lost season, nothing will. It’s apparent changes are on the horizon. The only question is how deep will they go? This is where the Ted Phillips conversation starts.

The man first broke into the Bears power structure in 1993. Six years later he was promoted to team president. A rather interesting choice considering the man had exactly zero background in football. He didn’t even play it or coach it or scout it. He was a businessman. A former accountant. Putting someone like that in charge of a football team should’ve been seen as a red flag.

Now 21 years later and there’s nothing but regrets.

Chicago has made the playoffs five times during Phillips’ tenure in charge. In a business that is all about winning, that is pretty pathetic. Especially for an organization that helped build the league into what it is today. Now here the Bears are. They’re 5-7 after a 5-1 start, enduring arguably the worst collapse in franchise history. All of it orchestrated by men he had a direct hand in hiring.

Now it appears his artful dodging won’t save him anymore. Word at Halas Hall is his seat is scorching hot along with those of Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace. Team chairman George McCaskey is livid with the state of the franchise and is contemplated wholesale changes. Rather than get fired though, it seems Phillips may opt for a different exit strategy.

David Kaplan reported as much on his ESPN 1000 radio program.

According to @thekapman, rumor is that Ted Phillips is considering retiring after this season. #DaBears

— Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) December 7, 2020

Woah! @thekapman just said on @kapandjhood that he has a source at Halas Hall who is saying Ted Phillips is likely to retire at the end of this season. pic.twitter.com/QsbDX9rAkr

— Da TailGate Show ™️ (@DaTailGateShow) December 7, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDbz_kSflP0&ab_channel=NFLGameday2021

Ted Phillips retiring makes sense from a business point of view

Something to remember here is Phillips is 63-years old. He’s not a young guy anymore. There is no doubt the pressures of his job can wear on a man. The idea of having to possibly start over or even take a demotion within the organization probably doesn’t sit well with him. So his only choice would be to step down. It is a way for him to save face. The “they can’t fire me, I quit” strategy.

Whatever one wishes to call it, this is huge news if it proves true. It would create a legitimate opportunity for the Bears to overhaul their entire power structure. Perhaps even build it more in line with the most successful organizations in the NFL. Above anything else, the McCaskey family has to right the original wrong by putting somebody at the top who has actual football knowledge. Somebody with a vision for how to properly build a team.

Then they can worry about the GM and head coach stuff.

Ted Phillips deserves credit for his business savvy. He built one of the most profitable franchises in the league. No doubt a huge reason why he lasted this long. Yet it was only a matter of time before the losing seasons stacked up high enough to where even he couldn’t escape anymore. If he steps aside, it will have been long overdue.