Northwest Indiana Bears? Chicago Bears president says team considering move

• The Chicago Bears say they are considering Northwest Indiana as a potential location for a new stadium.
• Team leadership expressed frustration with a lack of urgency from Illinois state officials regarding public funding.
• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office called the suggestion of moving to Indiana a "slap in the face" to fans.

The Chicago Bears released an open letter to fans Wednesday night that said the franchise is considering Northwest Indiana as a location for a new stadium.

The team has been seeking tax breaks and nearly $900 million in public funding, according to media reports, to build a stadium in Cook County, the most recent target being Arlington Heights, a Chicago suburb. But Bears President and CFO Kevin Warren said in the letter the team is not receiving a "sense of urgency or appreciation to date" from the state.

"We have been told directly by state leadership our project will not be a priority in 2026," Warren said. “Consequently, in addition to Arlington Park, we need to expand our search and critically evaluate opportunities throughout the wider Chicagoland region, including Northwest Indiana.

“This is not about leverage. We spent years trying to build a new home in Cook County. ... Our fans deserve a world-class stadium. Our players and coaches deserve a venue that matches the championship standard they strive for every day. With that in mind, our organization must keep every credible pathway open to deliver that future."

Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) didn't hold back in his response Warren offering Indiana as an option for the Bears.

“Suggesting the Bears would move to Indiana is a startling slap in the face to all the beloved and loyal fans who have been rallying around the team during this strong season,” a Pritzker spokesman said in a statement to the Chicago Sun-Times. “The Governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.”

Indiana HB 1292 was signed April 30, which established the northwest Indiana professional sports development commission. It "authorizes the commission to prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and developing one or more professional sports franchises in northwest Indiana."

Gov. Mike Braun (R-IN) took to social media to weigh in:

"The Chicago Bears recognize Indiana’s pro-business climate, and I am ready to work with them to build a new stadium in Northwest Indiana," he wrote. "This move would deliver a major economic boost, create jobs, and bring another premier NFL franchise to the Hoosier State. Let’s get it done."

This story was updated with new information.