It felt like the world froze from half a second when the news dropped. After three years of trying to get the “megaprojects” bill onto the legislative agenda, word came out that the hearing for it was cancelled in Springfield. Not long after that leaked, Indiana passed a key bill that would lay the groundwork for infrastructure and property tax incentives meant to lure the Chicago Bears south. Most took that as a sign that Illinois had fumbled the ball at the one-yard line. However, as always, the situation is more nuanced than that.

Governor J.B. Pritzker revealed later in the day that it was the Bears who requested the hearing be postponed so some tweaks could be made to the bill. Their statement of satisfaction at the process being made in Indiana caught many in Springfield by surprise. Most took it as a death blow to any hope the team was staying in Illinois. However, some insisted this was merely continued posturing from all sides. This was further proven when the Daily Herald reported that a new hearing has been schedule for next Thursday.

With talks still ongoing behind the scenes, the bill drafted by Democratic state Rep. Mary Beth Canty of Arlington Heights isn’t likely to be the final one legislators consider.

Tuesday marked the first day since last fall that the House and Senate were in session concurrently. Both chambers are scheduled to adjourn May 31.

But amid the legislative movement in the Hoosier state, they may move quicker.

Late Thursday, a new House committee hearing was set for 8 a.m. Feb. 26 in Springfield.

More details prove the Chicago Bears aren’t the only guilty party.

Mark Grote of 104.3 The Score revealed in a podcast appearance with Dan Wiederer that part of the problem has been division in the Illinois government ranks. Pritzker, for his part, has been motivated to get a deal done with the Bears. However, he hasn’t gotten full compliance from the house and senate. Many in their ranks have resisted making a deal, feeling it was too dangerous to Illinois taxpayers unless specific protections were put in place. That is another reason this process has been so slow.

There is no such disunity in Indiana. Their government has been in near lockstep since the process began, pushing the necessary legislation through with minimal resistance. They’ve made it clear they want the Bears the northwest region, no matter where. Right now, it sounds like the town of Hammond is the preferred spot. It’s less than 30 miles from downtown Chicago and has plenty of real estate to build the massive project Kevin Warren and the McCaskeys envisioned when this entire saga began.

Everything points to a decisive moment by the end of February.

It’s been hinted at for weeks that the Chicago Bears want a resolution, one way or another, but the start of March. The timing of the hearing in Springfield is no accident. The extra week allows both sides to make any further tweaks to the bill they want. If it finally reaches the house floor, there should be a good chance that it passes. The Bears have already said they’re financing the stadium themselves. All they’ve required is help with infrastructure and the freedom to negotiate fair property taxes.

Some feel if the government had acted on this issue even a year ago, they would’ve got a more favorable agreement. Their decision to constantly put it off led to the Bears inviting Indiana into the discussion. Now there is increasing public pressure to do something, which gives the organization leverage. Illinois overplayed its hand, and now they’re on the back foot scrambling to rescue the situation. Prominent politicians elsewhere believe the Bears are merely using every advantage they have to get the best deal possible.

Based on all the information we have to date, the Chicago Bears seem to be trending in a specific direction regarding their 25th overall pick in the 1st round this April. Left tackle and safety are both possibilities given their uncertainty due to injuries or free agency. However, every sign points to the team going after a top defensive lineman at that spot. It leans into the strength of this draft class, and Dennis Allen needs a dynamic option. It doesn’t matter if it’s inside or outside.

Obviously, it’s easy to say that. It is much harder to determine which direction the Bears go. Experts will say they don’t even know yet. That is because the team doesn’t yet have all the information. A major step in that process starts next Monday when over 300 players convene in Indianapolis for the scouting combine. The drills in that event often play a big part in helping teams set their boards, both through brief interviews conducted and the athletic testing.

The problem is figuring out which defensive players Dennis Allen will prioritize in the draft. Based on the historical data available from his previous stops, one drill stands out above the others.

The 10-yard split.

The 10-yard split will be a must-watch for the Chicago Bears.

Everybody knows the hottest event at the combine is the 40-yard dash, which tests the raw speed of every prospect. However, many coaches look to the 10-yard split for the bigger guys there (offensive and defensive linemen) because it’s a great way to measure their explosiveness. Allen seems to have this stat circled because it paints a clear picture of what he likes in the draft. Since 2011, no 1st round edge rusher his team drafted has posted a split of 1.70 or higher. For defensive tackles, it has never gone above 1.80.

That list tells you what to look for pretty consistently. If an edge rusher posts a split in the 1.5 range, they will likely become a very good player in the NFL. Miller, Mack, and Hendrickson all became Pro Bowlers. For defensive tackles, it is the 1.6 range, though Allen has never had the benefit of landing such a player. Bresee was the closest with his 1.71, and he became a pretty good player in his brief time with the coach. It shows you that Allen has the right idea with monitoring those times.

Actual times are still to come, but projections paint a picture.

As of right now, there are only two edge rushers with 1st round grade believed capable of reaching that sub-1.60 mark. One is Arvell Reese of Ohio State, and the other is David Bailey of Texas Tech. Unfortunately for the Chicago Bears, both are expected to be top 10 picks. At defensive tackle, Peter Woods of Clemson is the one to watch. Estimates have him timing in the mid-1.60 range. From there, you’re getting mostly guys expected in the high 1.6 to mid-1.70 range.

Out of the 1st round? There will be some interesting names to watch. Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs and Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant are expected to test well. Both were productive in college. If they clear those respective barriers, they could be in play for the Bears on day two of action. There is no question that the scouting combine will be a fascinating watch when the defensive linemen get going. They are scheduled to go on February 26th.

Ben Johnson made it clear from the moment he arrived. He wanted to build the Chicago Bears‘ offensive identity through running the football. In his mind, it was the best way to help keep the quarterback protected and open up opportunities for big plays through play-action. He proved that point last season with the tandem of D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai posting the #3 rushing attack in the NFL. One would think that success would convince Johnson that he doesn’t need to make any changes at the position.

However, history shows that Johnson is never settled at that position, even after a successful season. He might be proving it again. Draft insider Justin Melo informed SM that the Bears were showing considerable interest in North Dakota State running back Barika Kpeenu.

Kpeenu was a revelation this past season for the Bison, scoring 20 touchdowns. He was a part-time contributor to their national championship team in 2024 and carried the load in 2025, bypassing the transfer portal and waiting his turn. Such commitment feels rare these days, which is one reason the Bears like him.

Ben Johnson might be seeking his next David Montgomery.

One of the things that made his offense lethal in Detroit was signing the former Bears running back in 2023. His mixture of power, contact balance, and relentlessness made the Lions’ rushing attack a load to handle. While Monangai has the same toughness and balance, he lacks Montgomery’s size and overall power. Those are qualities Kpeenu regularly showcased for North Dakota State. He’s similar in size to Montgomery and has the mix of power and contact balance that makes him a load to bring down.

He’s drawn comparisons to names like Damien Harris and Gus Edwards as well. While they aren’t what you’d call stars, they made huge contributions to the success of their teams. There is no law against Ben Johnson wanting to add more bodies to a position he views as key to his entire offense. That is especially true considering Swift is a free agent after this season. It would be wise for the Bears to seek some insurance and depth. It feels likely they could scoop up Kpeenu in the late rounds.

Here are some names he might remind you of.

Eric Studesville will play a big role in this.

The Bears hired the new running backs coach this past week to replace Eric Bieniemy. He has a long track record of helping teams find good players, including power runners. His best was probably Marshawn Lynch when he worked in Buffalo. If anybody can give Ben Johnson an idea of whether Kpeenu can hack it in the NFL, it will be Studesville. There is a strong probability he won’t be the only running back they’re looking at. They’ve already proven they can land good ones in the later rounds.

This is also a possible avenue for them to recruit him as a potential undrafted free agent. The Bears have shown a willingness to meet with players they like early in the process to lay the foundation. It is how they landed Tyson Bagent two years ago. If any position could yield a strong contributor in the undrafted ranks, it would be running back. Keep the name in mind as the draft process unfolds.

Ian Cunningham finally departed for his own general manager position this offseason, taking over the Atlanta Falcons. That left Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles with the difficult decision on who to replace him with. There was speculation that he might consider an outside option, perhaps someone close to head coach Ben Johnson. Others felt the most obvious decision was to promote Jeff King, the senior director of player personnel, to the role. On February 19th, we got the answer.

The Bears announced King would be the new assistant general manager, marking a somewhat meteoric rise for the executive, who joined the team as a scout in 2015.

King’s value to the organization became apparent after Poles arrived. He was said to be instrumental in the scouting and recruitment of quarterback Tyson Bagent, and only gained the team’s confidence with his ability to negotiate trades during the draft. Insiders have said he’s highly respected around the league. So this decision isn’t much of a surprise. However, the work might not be done.

Ryan Poles still has a significant void in his front office.

Promoting King may have filled Cunningham’s job slot, but it still leaves the Bears’ front office without one of their most prominent talent evaluators. It would make sense for the GM to bring in some help to balance that loss. It doesn’t have to be another director of player personnel. It could be an additional scouting director or national scout. The Bears don’t want to let such a brain drain sit without doing something. Poles hasn’t brought in an outsider since taking over in 2022. Could this be the year that changes?

As to who it could be? That is a difficult question to answer. It isn’t clear what connections Poles may have around the league, aside from his obvious ones with the Kansas City Chiefs. King has ties to Carolina and Arizona, but that was as a player. Coach Johnson built relationships in Miami and Detroit. Those are possible avenues to explore. Then again. Ryan Poles has gotten to know tons of people from the many meetings during the various All-Star games, Senior Bowls, and scouting combines over the past three years.

The likely outcome of this is that the Bears won’t make a decision until after the draft. They’re already deep in evaluations, and bringing in an outside voice now could derail the entire process.

Over the past week, it felt like there was serious momentum between the Chicago Bears and the state of Illinois on legislation that would help the franchise finally begin building its new stadium in Arlington Heights. A recent bill was passed that would help businesses receive funding for economic development, including infrastructure. The only hurdle left to clear was property tax certainty, which could be secured through a new “megaprojects” bill introduced in Springfield some time ago. It looked like it would finally be heard by the legislature on Thursday morning.

Just 24 hours earlier, Abdul Hakim-Shabazz of Indy Politics shared this update on the situation in Indiana.

An announcement is expected Wednesday in the Ways and Means Committee that the Chicago Bears have agreed to relocate to Northwest Indiana, specifically the Hammond area,  Indy Politics has learned.

The anticipated announcement would mark a significant development in the long-running uncertainty surrounding the Bears’ stadium future. The team has spent several years exploring options in Illinois, including proposals involving Chicago’s lakefront and suburban redevelopment sites. No formal agreement has been publicly confirmed to date.

That makes it sound like the talks with Illinois are going nearly as well as J.B. Pritzker made it seem. Sure enough, news has trickled out of Springfield that the hearing meant for the megaprojects bill has been cancelled.

If that weren’t enough, Craig’s Chicago Business had an update of its own, stating that the Bears’ interest in Hammond is very real, though they aren’t yet planning a full commitment.

The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote Thursday morning on new language meant to pave the way for a deal for that site to be finalized, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told the Indianapolis Business Journal.

If that language is added to Senate Bill 27, the Bears are expected to make a statement that confirms the team’s interest in the site but will remain short of a full commitment to move, said the source, who requested anonymity to speak about the negotiations.

The Chicago Bears appear to have been jerked around again.

The Illinois government has stopped and started on this issue for three years. Its constant unwillingness to take the Chicago Bears seriously is what eventually pushed them to open talks with Indiana in the first place. Now the neighboring state is offering a remarkably intriguing deal for the organization. Their legislation would enable them to receive infrastructure support and property tax benefits. They’d also be free to choose their preferred site for the stadium and would own it once its debt was fully paid off.

This has become a case of the Bears realizing they’re not wanted in Illinois. Its lawmakers see them as a needless distraction from other issues. Meanwhile, Indiana has made it clear from every possible angle that they want them and are willing to provide all the support necessary to make it happen. Nobody can say the Bears haven’t done everything possible to work with Illinois to find a solution. It hasn’t worked. If this is truly the end, nobody should blame the organization for taking the better deal.

Choosing Hammond always felt the most likely.

Throughout this process, the key for the Bears was simple. They didn’t want to lose access to the massive downtown fanbase. Downtown Chicago is 29 miles away from Hammond. It’s a drive of less than 40 minutes. That is almost the exact same distances as Arlington Heights, just in the opposite direction. From the team’s perspective, they remain close enough to the city while still enjoying the many perks Indiana offers by crossing state lines. It is a pretty sweet deal, even if it makes it harder for fans in the northern suburbs to see the team.

As for Pritzker and his government? It isn’t yet known what caused the talks to fall apart, or whether they might be rescued at the 11th hour. He’s made it clear he would not use taxpayer money to fund what he called a “vanity” project. This last-minute series of talks seemed promising, but something happened that led to the hearing being cancelled. Now, Pritzker stands to become the man who let the Chicago Bears leave the state of Illinois for the first time in over a century.

*******************************Update**************************************

Sure enough, shortly after word of all this emerged, the Bears released a statement regarding the bill’s passing in Indiana. It sure sounds like Hammond will be the new home for the franchise moving forward.

While it isn’t a full commitment, all of the signs are there. Illinois, for whatever reason, balked at something during talks. Indiana has done nothing but forge ahead. The message is clear, and the Bears are finally listening.

********************************UPDATE 2***********************************

The plot twists keep coming. According to Governor Pritzker’s depute chief of staff for communications, the state was ready to push the bill forward. Things were going in that direction. Then, at the last second, the Bears apparently asked to pause the hearing to make some added tweaks to the bill. Then the Indiana statement hit, which caught many by surprise.

This leaves the situation in limbo. The Bears still haven’t fully committed to Indiana despite their recent statement. It seems they are still in talks with Illinois, but this latest situation is beyond puzzling. Did George McCaskey have a sudden change of heart, feeling the Indiana offer was too good to pass up, or is the organization getting a little greedy with their demands from Illinois? Full details are hard to come by, but this latest revelation shows how chaotic everything continues to be.

********************************Update 3************************************

Governor J.B. Pritzker has publicly commented on the situation. He confirmed the Bears asked him and the Illinois government to table the bill, which was done. As for the state of the Hammond situation in Indiana, apparently, the neighboring state asked the Bears to put it out.

Why they would agree to do that is a mystery, especially if they’re so close to an agreement with Illinois on this new bill. The only explanation is that it’s a late-stage leverage play to get some extra things they want added to the legislation. That, or somebody inside Halas Hall is having second thoughts.