The Chicago Bears have lots of work to do in the 2023 off-season. One of the most overlooked jobs was finding a replacement for team president Ted Phillips. He is retiring after holding the position since 1999. It is another momentous change for a front office that has already seen plenty. While there were rumored possibilities such as superagent Trace Armstrong and salary cap guru Cliff Stein, neither seemed realistic. After months of quietly searching, it appears the organization has found its man.
Pete Thamel of ESPN reported that Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren has become the heavy favorite to take over as the Bears team president. He has a long track record of NFL service. He was part of the St. Louis Rams’ front office as a legal counsel during their Super Bowl runs in 1997 and 2001. After that, he spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions. After a brief exodus from the game in 2004, he returned to join the Minnesota Vikings in 2005 where he spent the next 14 years. During that time, the organization made the playoffs six times and reached the NFC championship twice.
His leadership was a big reason the Big Ten managed to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. It’s easy to understand why he is so appealing.
The Chicago Bears have a chance to make history with this hire.
It would be the first time the organization has ever employed two people of color at their top two positions of team president and GM. Ryan Poles became the first black man to officially hold that title when he was hired back in January. Warren would be the first to hold team president. It is another sign that George McCaskey, for all his faults, is a true advocate of equality in the NFL. More people like him are needed. To say nothing of Warren’s credentials.
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He was critical to the Vikings’ efforts in building U.S. Bank Stadium. With the Chicago Bears hoping to build one of their own in Arlington Park, his appeal is no coincidence. That doesn’t even account for what he’s done in the Big Ten. He added two prominent programs in USC and UCLA to the conference and helped raise its overall academic profile. Two representatives, Ohio State and Michigan, will be playing in the College Football Playoffs. Nobody can argue the man has found success almost everywhere he’s been. Also, unlike Phillips, he has a deep football background. He’s well-qualified for this job.
