The 2023 Chicago Bears off-season has barely begun, and already the craziness has started. This could end up being the most eventful four-month span in franchise history. They have the most free agency cap space of any team by miles. Then they hold the #1 pick in the NFL draft for the first time since 1947. GM Ryan Poles has a golden opportunity to reshape the franchise into something special. This isn’t even counting the other momentous occasion of the Bears hiring a new team president for the first time since 1999.
Ted Phillips is retiring. While his legacy will involve significant successes, such as growing the organization to one of the most valued in professional sports and starting the path to a new stadium, he’ll also be tied to one of the most disappointing periods in franchise history. It’s horribly fitting the Bears only have one winning record since 2013 and ended his tenure with the most losses they’ve ever had in a single season. Fans can only hope his successor does better. The question is who that successor will be. According to longtime ESPN 1000 radio host John “Jurko” Jurkovic of Carmen & Jurko, the decision is already made.
“Confidence is high in the Jurkovich camp on this one. In what might be the least surprising news of the decade, Kevin Warren…they’ve made a decision in the next couple of days, even before the end of the week, Kevin Warren will become the president of the Chicago Bears.”
Most agree this would be a home run hire for the Chicago Bears.
Warren is the Big Ten commissioner. During his tenure, the conference has seen tons of success on and off the field. They inked a lucrative television deal with NBC and also added two prominent programs in USC and UCLA to their ranks. Two of their schools were in the College Football Playoffs. Warren is viewed by many as the most powerful commissioner in the NCAA. None of that even accounts for the fact he worked in the NFL from 1997 through 2019. The last four were as the Minnesota Vikings’ president. He is overwhelmingly qualified for the Bears’ job.
Jurkovich played for ten seasons in the NFL. He’s covered Chicago sports for decades now. There is no reason to think his sources are questionable here. It was already well known the Chicago Bears had interest in Warren. He is everything they could want. He’d bring experience and pedigree. Better still, he’s already gone through the hurdles of establishing a new stadium. He was essential to the Vikings’ efforts in building U.S. Bank Stadium a few years ago. He should be able to handle the Arlington project with no issues.
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This would be a strong move for the team’s future.
Ted Phillips’ strengths were in his business dealings. He never was a true football fan or someone with football expertise. Kevin Warren has different strengths and qualities. He is a true football man and has a resume that proves how successful his career has been. He will help with the new stadium because he’s done that before. Great choice!
This should make it easier for bears to join big 10
@Tom waddle there’s a story about your boy aaron that needs your attention. I didn’t see you or any of your other handles on that story. You’ve got a new one, max makenosense. Let’s hear how your packers need to find some trade capital to move up to #1 and get that QB you push so gard for. Lmfao
There are no words to express what a piss poor job “Sweaty” Teddy has done. Sure he’s managed the finances successfully but his title is Team President and he’s presided over year after year of football mediocrity. I’ve stated this many many times on Twitter and sites like this. The fact that the Bears stuck with him for two decades plus is utter insanity and a colossal fail on the part of the McCaskey family and board of the Bears. He was rewarded time and time again in spite of a lack of titles and championships on the field. The… Read more »
I think anyone on this forum could have had more success as Team President than Phillips! (Maybe not the shady financial side, but football operations side)