Report: NFL tells Bears that Chicago is not a viable option

Chicago Bears president Kevin Warren. Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images

Report: NFL tells Bears that Chicago is not a viable option

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Apr 30, 2026 8:02 AM ET

A day after Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker warned the Chicago Bears that moving to Indiana would cost the team fans, the team met with the NFL Stadium Committee on Wednesday to present progress on the two potential sites for a new stadium project in Arlington Heights or Hammond, Indiana.

The Bears are waiting for the Illinois Senate to pass the megaprojects legislation bill that passed the House last week, though the team is hoping for new amendments to be added. The team has also met with leaders in Northwest Indiana amid the state of Illinois being tardy in passing the bill.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has voiced his wish for the Bears to remain in the city of Chicago. Any slim chance the Bears had of staying in the city appears to be over.

Chicago Bears: NFL named two viable sites for new stadium

Per Courtney Cronin of ESPN, the league’s stadium committee told the Bears that the proposed sites in Arlington Heights and Hammond were the only two viable options. The committee told the Bears they need act “expeditiously” on deciding to build in Illinois or Indiana.

“Bears brass met virtually today with the NFL’s Stadium Committee to discuss the team’s two proposed stadium sites,” Cronin posted on X. “The Bears presented an update on the Arlington Heights, Ill. and Hammond, Ind. sites.

“Per source, the committee members agreed that these 2 sites are the only viable options and expressed a need to move the process forward ‘expeditiously.’ There was no vote taken but the Stadium Committee will meet again within 2 weeks. Source says that the committee also acknowledged the Illinois legislature needs to continue to work to move the process forward, which will now require the PILOT bill to move through the senate.”

Chicago Bears brass met virtually today with the NFL's Stadium Committee to discuss the team's two proposed stadium sites. The Bears presented an update on the Arlington Heights, Ill. and Hammond, Ind. sites.

Per source, the committee members agreed that these 2 sites are the…
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 29, 2026

Chicago is out of the running to keep the Bears. Frankly, it seemed like a long shot for the team to stay, given the Bears’ desires if it were to stay in the city that bares its name.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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