The Chicago Bears’ long-running stadium saga is heating up - and this time, there’s a real sense that the clock is ticking.
It’s been nearly three years since the Bears purchased 326 acres in Arlington Heights, a move that was supposed to kickstart a bold new era for the franchise. Back in 2023, team president Kevin Warren said the goal was to have “shovels in the ground” by 2025.
Well, we’re in 2026 now, and not a single shovel has touched the soil. The grand vision for a state-of-the-art stadium?
Still just that - a vision.
So what’s the holdup? It’s a complicated dance between the Bears and the state of Illinois, and neither party has been able to lead.
Governor JB Pritzker has been consistent in his stance: no taxpayer money for the stadium. While the state has said it’s open to helping in other ways, that hasn’t translated into tangible progress.
Meanwhile, the Bears are growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of movement.
Enter Indiana.
While Illinois has been dragging its feet, Indiana has been rolling out the red carpet. Lawmakers there are actively pushing legislation that would empower the Northwest Indiana stadium authority to acquire land and finance the construction of a new NFL facility. According to ESPN’s Marc Silverman, the Bears are seriously considering Indiana’s offer - and may be ready to move forward with it.
“If the Bears are told at the end of February, and they get what they want from the state of Indiana… and Illinois says, ‘We need more time,’” Silverman said on ESPN 1000, “from what I’ve been understanding is, the Bears have been at this for three years, they’re frustrated too, and they will take their bags and move to Northwest Indiana.”
That’s not just idle chatter. Silverman emphasized that Indiana isn’t being used as leverage - this is a legitimate alternative the Bears are prepared to act on. He also noted that Indiana’s financial package would be “by far” the most favorable deal on the table.
For now, Arlington Heights remains the team’s preferred destination. But preference only gets you so far when deadlines are missed and patience wears thin. A decision could come as soon as late February or early March, and if Indiana continues to check every box while Illinois stalls, the Bears may finally decide it’s time to make a move.
And let’s not forget - playing outside your namesake city or even state isn’t exactly new territory in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers call Santa Clara home.
The Dallas Cowboys play in Arlington. And the New York Giants and Jets?
They’ve been in East Rutherford, New Jersey for decades.
So if the Chicago Bears were to set up shop just over the border in Northwest Indiana, it wouldn’t be unprecedented - just a bold shift in direction for a franchise that’s been stuck in neutral on this issue for far too long.
The next few weeks could be pivotal. After years of talk, the Bears may finally be ready to put plans into motion - whether that’s in Arlington Heights or across state lines. Either way, the message is clear: it’s time to stop waiting and start building.