The Chicago Bears have long had a reputation for operating like a mom-and-pop shop. Despite being a billion-dollar organization with all the resources it could ever need, they have operated as if it’s still the 1960s when spending money was always done carefully. Things have changed so much since then. Top organizations carry themselves like professional corporations. Everything is first-class all the time. The Bears haven’t done that. NFL agent Rick Smith knew this from having worked with them, along with every other team, since getting into the business. However, the past month has shown him things have changed drastically inside Halas Hall, which is almost entirely thanks to team president Kevin Warren.
George McCaskey isn’t known for any level of competence or genius as Bears chairman. However, he does at least seem to have self-awareness. Once Ted Phillips announced his retirement, McCaskey knew he had to find somebody with experience working with top NFL organizations. That is how he landed on Warren, who’d found great success with the Rams and Vikings. Smith admitted that the Bears’ operations have drastically improved their resource allocation and organization. It was a vital change that helped lure Smith’s client, Ben Johnson, to Chicago.
Kevin Warren gets plenty of heat, but his impact is already noticeable.
Yes, he seems to carry himself like a professional politician, always speaking in grand statements. Fans struggle to take him seriously. However, he has completely altered the mentality of how this team operates. They’ve gone from pinching pennies wherever possible to adopting the belief that you have to spend money to make money. Kevin Warren said shortly after the Johnson hire that he would not spare any resource available in this organization’s pursuit of a championship. That is why they’ve been flying clients in via private jets, wining and dining them at fancy restaurants, and just handed Johnson the largest contract for a first-time head coach in history.
There is no way Phillips or his predecessors would’ve ever done such things. If you want to be great, don’t be afraid to take big swings. That is the mentality Warren has brought to Chicago. He may not be perfect, but the new president finally brought the Bears into the 21st century.
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Thanks George and Virginia! You are appreciated by the knowledgeable, unbiased fans. Same with most of the players. Now, Erik is spinning all sorts of things to resurrect Poles and Warren (whom he had blasted before the signing of my man Ben). Same with the worst Hyenas. Were they ever negative and emotionally distraught. If you do not believe me, go back and read the biggest turncoat, Rocketrider. Honestly, I thought he needed an intervention. He went 180 degrees and made TWTY appear normal. Now he is back another 180 degrees. He really is fanatical just like DeNiro in the… Read more »
Visit the NFLPA site and you can view the 2024 Team Report Cards. These are summaries of the comments of 1,706 members of the National Football League Players Association — actual players — rather than opinions of Erik Lambert and his many “insiders.” Some of the revelations regarding Team Ownership and the Kansa City Chiefs (D+) are astounding — not all in a good way. This report belies (and also confirms) the belief that “good people in key positions” apply throughout this NFL Championship Team — as well as confirm my view that “winning” trumps “Ownership.” From the NFL Player… Read more »
And yet, everybody’s crying about the stadium. That might be his main job but his role of President was never clearly outlined by the Bears. And so pundits cry about the stadium cause its convienent, not really understanding how much politics are involved , not understanding the timeline and how long things really take. The man helped organize and oversee the construction of an NFL stadium previously. Im not worried about it happening here. From zoning laws, to permitting, to soothing unhappy folks, all of this takes time. And once ground is broke, it will take a good 3 +… Read more »
Hoping you are right Deez.
Apparently Warren has been dragging this team kicking and screaming along with him. It’s really surprising how little positive news we’ve had about Warren before the Ben Johnson hiring was completed. The way the team handled Eberflus’ firing, the press conference where Poles was publicly bigfooted and looked like a scolded child, and the lack of any real, determinative progress on getting the stadium started was really all the information we had to judge what Warren was doing before the head coach hiring process. Now, we hear that Warren was instrumental in convincing Johnson that the Bears were a changed… Read more »