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.
It appears the Bears are making good decisions by hiring really qualified successful football guys. Kevin Warren makes sense. He has a wealth of NFL experience from his time with the Rams, Lions, and Vikings. He also oversaw the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota. Those qualifications make him perfect for the Bears’ current and future needs
Jason: Sorry if I was overly harsh. I’ve worked for a family business with the matriarch in charge and the kids “running” the company. I probably overgeneralized. And, I’ll give her credit that she has enough of a clue to know she needed an accountant who would keep an eye on her inheritance and report back to her on any major screwups. But, as for her ability to run a football team, I think the record speaks for itself. And, as for Red Grange: Yeah, the organization has been living in the past for decades. (And don’t give me the… Read more »
@David – Or they are something much worse, like Ghost.
Don’t call Virginia McCaskey a ‘clueless heiress’. Very unnecessary cheap shot. She probably knows more about football than you ever will. Yes, her time has passed and it’s good to see the Bears attempting to progress into the 21st century. But, her love for the Bears is unmatched. She knew Red Grange. Understood your history, and show some respect!. In fact, why don’t you ‘Pass Through’ talking about the Bears from now on
To those who are complaining about the article highlighting that Warren is black, seriously, look at the article. There are four paragraphs. One of the four addresses that Warren is black, in two sentences. The third sentence in that paragraph mentions that the McCaskeys are committed to diversity in the NFL. The rest of the article is about his qualifications, the Bears needs, etc. Given that the article is about the man, it would be disingenuous to not mention in passing that he’s black. That’s exactly what Erik did. If you want to complain about that, it says more about… Read more »