On January 12, 2023, the Chicago Bears named Kevin Warren as the next president and CEO of the franchise, following the out-going president and CEO Ted Phillips, who officially retired following the 2022 season.
Kevin Warren comes to the Bears with years of experience in both the NFL and NCAA. Warren has served as the commissioner of the Big 10 Conference since 2020, and previously held positions with the St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings, and the Detroit Lions. He was a part of the Rams’ Super Bowl winning team during the 1999 season, playing an important role in their success.
The Bears have a long way to go in order to be a championship team, but hiring Warren is a start. The McCaskey family is one of the few NFL owners that made their fortune due to owning the team, rather than buying the team as a result of other riches. The mom-and-pop shop owned franchise has frustrated Bears fans for decades, but hiring Warren, the first outside president in franchise history, shows that the McCaskeys are finally willing to step up as NFL owners and bring a ring to the city of Chicago.
There is no doubt Warren knows football: he has over two decades of experience with various organizations, and some degree of success with each. Warren’s education as an attorney proves he has the intelligence and dedication to push this franchise forward. His reputation, highlighted by his tenure as the Big 10 Commissioner, is one of grit and meaning business: Warren will play hardball with Poole and Eberflus in order to get the job done.
Everything is set up for Warren to turn the Bears around. Even though the Bears are still far off from competing in the NFC, Warren’s hire is the first step towards bringing legitimacy and success back to this franchise and their fans.
