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New York Times
08-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
An inside look at the start of the Bears' new era as Ryan Poles hired Ben Johnson
In a morning meeting at Halas Hall on Jan. 19, general manager Ryan Poles finally revealed to everyone involved in the Chicago Bears' coaching search whom he wanted to hire as the team's next head coach. Until then, Poles kept his thinking secret. He didn't want to sway how others felt about the candidates the team interviewed. Advertisement 'That's when he gave his opinion and his thought process to everyone,' president/CEO Kevin Warren said. 'It was organized — and it all came together.' The night before, the Bears' coaching search changed during the Detroit Lions' playoff game against the Washington Commanders. Poles and Warren briefly talked that night. As every second passed in what became an upset win for the Commanders, it looked more likely that action would be required. It was becoming time to go get Ben Johnson. Literally. '(Poles) basically said, 'We need to be ready to get on a plane to get to Detroit,'' chairman George McCaskey said. 'And then, upon reflection, and I think talking to Ben's agent (Rick Smith), we also thought it was important to give Ben time to process what had happened. So we didn't want to lose out, but we didn't want to jump in too fast.' The Bears also wanted to keep their interview with Eddie George — then the head coach of Tennessee State who has since been hired by Bowling Green — on their schedule for Halas Hall. The interview was arranged a week earlier. It wouldn't change. Poles still wanted the same feedback on George as the previous 16 candidates. But with the Lions eliminated from the playoffs, the Bears' expansive coaching search accelerated. If teams were going to aggressively pursue Johnson, the Bears had to be ready, too. And they were. In interviews with The Athletic, Warren and McCaskey provided details of Poles' search that resulted in Johnson's hiring, the beginning of a successful offseason for the franchise. 'In retrospect,' McCaskey said, 'I think Ben was his No. 1 candidate going into the process, but I think Ryan was smart enough to not want to compromise the process by offering his opinion before we had even started the process.' The Ryan Poles era began in baggage claim at O'Hare International Airport on the night of Jan. 24, 2022. McCaskey drove to the airport, parked his Honda Accord in the White Sox level of the garage and met his new GM. 'He was squeezing himself into the passenger seat,' McCaskey recalled of Poles, a former offensive lineman. 'I said, 'You can put that seat back. And I realized in an instant the seat was already back as far as it could go. He was still having trouble getting in there.' Advertisement Three days later, Matt Eberflus was hired as the Bears' head coach. He was one of three finalists that McCaskey, former president Ted Phillips and then-adviser Bill Polian had after running coinciding searches. Poles had the option to reopen the search but declined. They were introduced together at Halas Hall. This search was very different. Warren replaced Phillips, but there would be no Polian. This search belonged to Poles. 'It was the most organized interview process that I've ever been involved with,' Warren said. 'Not for a coach, I'm talking about for an executive, for anyone. It was great to be able to see that come to life.' Poles ran his search through Microsoft Teams. Everything was there: the calendar, candidate experience overviews and background information. Upon the conclusion of each interview, the members of Poles' interview panel — Warren, McCaskey, Matt Feinstein (director of football administration), Jeff King (senior director of player personnel), Ted Crews (chief administrative officer/special adviser to the president and CEO) and Liz Geist (executive vice president of people and culture/chief human resources officer) — were asked to grade each candidate. Poles set a 1-9 scale: 1 being a major concern and 9 meaning excellent. A variety of factors were considered: passion, football intelligence, vision, problem-solving, independence, communication, growth mindset, self-awareness and, of course, a plan for quarterback development. But Poles wanted written responses, too. The panel was asked to consider a candidate's background, key skills and leadership traits. They also provided their final assessments of each candidate. For more, Poles added reports where candidates were graded on how they presented themselves publicly in the past as the potential face of the franchise. Poles' database had links to news articles, press conferences, podcasts and social media posts that featured the candidates. Advertisement 'It was like how you set it up as a scouting report,' McCaskey said. 'What are this person's strengths? What do you think are this person's challenges? What's your final assessment? He looked for an objective assessment and a subjective assessment.' The Bears interviewed 17 candidates, but it never felt overwhelming, McCaskey said, despite as many as three interviews happening on the same day. Part of that was the schedule Poles established. The panel members were afforded time between each interview to review their notes before entering their grades and evaluations. 'We wrote up reports,' Warren said. 'It was almost like how he prepares for free agency and how he prepares for the draft. So it wasn't like coming in there, 'Hey, what'd you think about Candidate A?' … 'Oh, I like him.' No, no, no, no. It was broken down into different categories about areas of that candidate and why it would make it important and why it would be relevant.' League rules slowed down the hiring process. There were set windows for coaches on playoff teams and time limits, which created a greater emphasis on virtual video conferences. Every interview included individual time with Poles. Only three candidates visited Halas Hall: Ron Rivera, Mike McCarthy and George. Johnson interviewed in the morning on Jan. 11. Aaron Glenn, the Lions' defensive coordinator at the time, spoke with the Bears that afternoon. 'With a candidate like Ben — and this is true of other candidates, too — Zoom really didn't still stifle them,' McCaskey said. '(Johnson's) energy came right through the camera, and that was true of coach (Pete) Carroll and coach (Mike) Vrabel. And that was true for a couple other people. So I don't think it was a detriment.' To remove some of the emotion from the process, Poles asked staff members who weren't present in the interviews to grade the candidates based on the information provided in the database. Advertisement 'For me with Coach Johnson, in the first 10 minutes of the interview, I said that's the person,' Warren said. 'But one of the good things about it is, that's when (Poles) showed some of his best leadership. He didn't tip his hand. He just gathered information. Because sometimes what you need as a leader, you need to make sure that you're gathering information but you're not showing your hand. Because what you don't want people to do is start to say, 'Well, I think he likes this person.' It's like a player. He does the same thing in the draft room. 'What that did, which was beautiful, is that it allowed everyone in the room to really give transparent information about what they thought. So he was very regal in that process of gathering information.' How Johnson opened and closed his interview resonated with McCaskey. He said he wanted to coach the Bears. 'Those were the first words out of his mouth on the Zoom,' McCaskey said. 'And that was the last thing he said. He said, 'Did I mention to you that I want this job?' — right before we turned off the camera.' Later that day, the Bears interviewed Glenn and then came 10 more candidates. They included McCarthy, who came to Halas Hall and then stayed in the area overnight. Johnson, though, was a candidate who had Poles' attention before the process even began. He watched Johnson's offense at work twice a year for three seasons as Bears GM. 'When you go through the season, you watch different teams, you admire different coaches, just in terms of their creativity or even the mindset and the mentality that they play with,' Poles said on the 'Hoge & Jahns' podcast. 'So that was one where throughout the year, you could see the evolution that was going on in Detroit, not only with what I think is really establishing kind of a toughness, gritty play to begin with, and then all of a sudden, the bells and whistles come on, you see some of the creativity. Advertisement 'As an offensive-minded person myself, (it's an offense) that puts a lot of stress on the defense. You don't know where things are coming from, if the tackle is going to throw the ball or if some trick play's coming. So I know it'll take a little bit to get to that point, but I just admire seeing the identity and also the creativity blended in there.' Johnson decided he wanted to coach the Bears — not the Las Vegas Raiders or the Jacksonville Jaguars — on Jan. 20, the Monday after the Lions' Saturday night playoff exit. The Bears went from being hopeful to showing how poised and prepared they were to act. Warren said Feinstein and Krista Whitaker, the Bears' executive vice president of legal affairs and business/chief legal officer, had started preparing a contract weeks in advance of Poles' eventual decision. 'Because I've been on that other side of that as an agent, as a lawyer, representing people,' Warren said. 'And it's one thing when someone says, 'Hey, let me scribble these thoughts now on the napkin.' Or, 'You got a pen? Can you write this down?' It's a totally different thing when someone sends you a draft of an agreement, even though it's not filled in, and then you can start working through it. Those are the things that really matter.' It didn't take long for a deal to get done. On Jan. 20, news officially broke from ESPN and NFL Network at 2:33 p.m. that the Bears and Johnson were finalizing an agreement. Warren described Johnson's agent, Rick Smith, as 'absolutely outstanding' in the negotiations. In an interview with 2nd City Gridiron, Smith described the team as the 'new Bears.' Smith credited King, a former client when he was a tight end in the NFL, for his role in the process. Smith said on the podcast that he laid out everything for Johnson on the night of Jan. 19. Johnson made his decision the next morning. Poles wanted Johnson in charge of his team, and Johnson wanted to work with Poles. 'Anytime there's a process like this, you hear all these crazy stories, and you don't know their origins,' McCaskey said. 'You don't know who's planting them. You have serious doubts about their authenticity. And for the guy to say, 'Contrary to what you might have heard, I want to work with Ryan — and I want to be the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.'' Advertisement And Johnson wanted to coach in the NFC North where he'd face Dan Campbell and the Lions, Matt LaFleur and the Packers and Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings twice a season. He made that clear in his interview as well. 'He said, 'I want that smoke,'' McCaskey said. On Jan. 22, the Bears introduced Johnson at Halas Hall. On March 4, the Bears acquired their first new starter for him: guard Jonah Jackson, who previously played for Johnson and the Lions before signing with the Los Angeles Rams. A day later, Poles got Johnson one more: All-Pro guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs. 'The beautiful thing about the trade part of it is the two guys came from both of our backgrounds,' Poles said on 'Hoge & Jahns.' Poles started the conversations for both players. He called the Rams and Chiefs, his former team. Jackson's acquisition wasn't surprising after how his first season in Los Angeles played out, starting with a shoulder injury. But the shock of the arrival of Thuney, a future Hall of Famer, still hasn't faded. 'I thought it was going to get turned down, to be honest with you,' Poles said. It didn't. Five days later, the Bears reached a deal with center Drew Dalman, the best free agent. The Bears now had a brand-new offensive line for their brand-new coach. 'I love our group,' Poles said. 'Everyone's able to think and come up with creative solutions to find a way and find a path to improve the team. And that's just a really good example on both sides.' Poles hasn't been in McCaskey's Accord since their first official day together. 'No, he hasn't, but he's welcome anytime,' McCaskey said. Poles still won't fit. Physically. But figuratively, he's grown as the Bears' football leader since then, too. 'He was young, a first-time GM,' McCaskey said. 'I'm sure just like a head coach, you think about, well, if I ever get that opportunity, when I get that opportunity, here's how it's going to go. … and then reality throws itself at you and you've got to adjust. I think he's learned a lot. I think he's come into his own as a leader. Advertisement 'I was very impressed with his head coaching search process: the way he set it up, how he decided who would be in the room, the candidates he selected, the variety, the way he conducted the interviews, the way he established a rapport with each candidate almost immediately, his thorough analysis of each candidate post interview, and then when he identified Ben Johnson as the guy, how we went after him and did what it took to get him. And how grateful we are that Ben decided to come here.'
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
George Halas' Heirs Not Selling Chicago Bears Any Time Soon
Chicago Bears owners George McCaskey, center, talks with Patrick McCaskey, right, as Brian McCaskey ... More listens to them during an NFL football news conference at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Bears are remaining in the hands of George Halas' heirs, with 'another 100 years' the goal of George McCaskey, Halas' grandson. The death of the 102-year-old Virginia McCaskey on Feb. 6 created uncertainty about the team's ownership but this week NFL owners approved a succession plan that keeps the team in the hands of the McCaskey family. 'We consider ourselves uniquely qualified to carry out George Halas' legacy,' McCaskey told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. 'And we have every intention of doing that.' George McCaskey remains the team's chairman with three of his brothers — Pat, Brian and Ed Jr. — on the board of directors. They are joined by Pat Ryan and team president/CEO Kevin Warren. Due to the complication of estate taxes, there had been speculation controlling interest in the team could pass to Ryan, the retired chairman of AON whose net worth is $13.7 billion, according to Forbes. The Bears' last major change in ownership was driven by a complicated situation with estate taxes after Halas' death in 1983. Ryan and the late Andrew McKenna bought into the team in 1990 after the Halas family exercised right of first refusal to cancel a $17 million offer for 20 percent of the team from Chicago developers Judd Malkin and Neil Bluhm. That ownership share had been held by Halas' grandchildren Christine and Stephen Halas, according to the Tribune. The McCaskey family retains 80 percent ownership of the franchise, which Halas founded in 1921. George McCaskey does not expect any significant changes in ownership. 'There shouldn't be,' he said. '(Virginia) set this up for a smooth transition. And it's a credit to her. In law school, I heard stories about people who just couldn't contemplate their mortality, and as a result it caused a lot of confusion and problems for the family. But she had the foresight to set it up so we don't have that problem.' Because the Bears haven't won a Super Bowl since 1985 and had only one winning season since 2012, when Lovie Smith was fired as head coach, the McCaskey family isn't inspiring confidence. But the team has set itself up for a renaissance on the field behind first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. Warren was hired away from his position as Big Ten commissioner with a mandate to solve the franchise's need for a stadium along the lines of those that have opened in the last 15 years, including AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.; Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.; Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. He hopes to break ground before the end of the year, either in suburban Arlington Heights or one of two sites in Chicago.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Momentum for Chicago Bears stadium project may be shifting back toward Arlington Heights
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Less than a year after the Chicago Bears delivered a grand presentation with a vision for a new multibillion-dollar stadium on the Museum Campus downtown, the train for the team's stadium project may be switching tracks toward Arlington Heights. After the NFL owners meetings concluded Wednesday at The Breakers resort, Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren confirmed the team no longer has a singular focus on building its new stadium downtown. 'The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights,' Warren said. 'One thing I have said before is that these are not linear processes or projects. They take time. They take a lot of energy and effort. And I am very, very pleased with where we are.' While far from surprising, that's an attention-grabbing change in rhetoric from the top of the Bears organization. Warren praised the potential for a massive development on the 326 acres the team owns in Arlington Heights on the site of the former Arlington Park racetrack. His outward enthusiasm for that site was significantly higher than it had been in quite some time. 'It's an absolutely fantastic piece of land,' Warren said. 'I thank the McCaskey family, led by George, for having the foresight to purchase that land.' Warren said the next step will be conducting traffic and financial feasibility studies for both potential projects. But his emphatic commendation of the suburban site was notable, as he highlighted the appealing topography of the land, the Metra station adjacent to the property and ample room for an accompanying entertainment district and mixed-use development. Bears Chairman George McCaskey shared Warren's enthusiasm and noted the vision his grandfather and franchise founder had in Arlington Heights. 'George Halas identified it more than 50 years ago as an ideal place for a Bears stadium,' McCaskey said. 'And I don't know if anything that has happened since then changed that evaluation.' Halas first flirted with the idea of moving the Bears to Arlington Heights in 1975 before the team extended its lease at Soldier Field in 1980. The Bears haven't closed the door on the Warren-led vision to keep the team playing on the lakefront downtown. And McCaskey was quick to point out the pluses of a possible new stadium on the Museum Campus. Chicago Bears and Soldier Field: What to know about the possible stadium move — or transformation 'Kevin has said it since he has been here: (That's a) beautiful spot by the lake,' McCaskey said. 'It's idyllic, and if there were sufficient improvements in infrastructure to make that location accessible 365 days of the year, it can be a fantastic opportunity as well.' Those improvements, however, might be too far-fetched and costly to create the necessary momentum within the city and state legislatures. With an estimated price tag approaching $1.5 billion for needed infrastructure, the Bears' downtown pitch hasn't gained much traction over the last year among lawmakers and politicians. An Arlington Heights project also would require funding for infrastructure such as roads, highways, sewers and other transportation-related support. But that cost, Warren told the Tribune, has been estimated at roughly half of what would be needed in downtown Chicago, another factor that seems to give the suburban option momentum. The Bears continue to pledge $2 billion for stadium construction and have not asked for public subsidies in that area. Warren said design plans are halfway finished for a stadium that would be compatible in either Arlington Heights or Chicago. 'We're not looking for any public dollars from a construction standpoint, especially in this climate,' Warren said. 'That reiterates the commitment the McCaskey family has to the Chicago Bears fans. 'I've said this all along: When is the last time that a private family, a private company, has committed over $2 billion toward a stadium?' The Bears are aware they need to drum up support in Springfield and beyond to push their stadium efforts forward. 'We need to convince the governor and the General Assembly that a stadium, regardless of where it is in Illinois, will be great for the state of Illinois,' McCaskey said. Speaking with media Wednesday on an unrelated conference call, Gov. JB Pritzker said: 'We welcome the idea that the Bears would stay in the city of Chicago. I've always said that that would be my personal preference because I've known them always to be a Chicago-based team.' Pritzker declined to comment further, saying he hasn't heard from the team that it's still considering the lakefront project. While the Bears initially ran into obstacles with tax dynamics in Arlington Heights, progress has since been made with three suburban school districts to pave the way toward a more palatable tax setup for the team. Warren is pushing for longer-term assurances on that front. 'We don't want tax certainty for the first five years with a building you hope lasts for 30 or 40 years,' he said. 'We want to pay our taxes, but you don't want to find yourself in the position where 15 years down the road, your tax bill quadruples. That just doesn't make sense. It's not good for business — for anyone.' A pond is in the center of the track at the former Arlington International Racecourse following the monthslong demolition, March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. The grandstand used to stand where the two-tone gravel is in the upper middle of the frame. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) The former Arlington International Racecourse on March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. The Bears purchased the Arlington Heights property last year. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune) Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse is dismantled on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe shell of the grandstand remains at the former Arlington International Racecourse as crews continue to demolish it on Aug. 31, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneCrews demolish the grandstand and surrounding structures at the former Arlington International Racecourse on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribunePeople wait for a Metra train in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneA Metra train arrives as the station in Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneDowntown Arlington Heights features a small park, condos, retail shopping and dining on Sept. 29, 2021. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribuneNewsstand owner Dilip Patel in his store inside the Metra station in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021, after the Bears announced they''d entered a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse as a potential new stadium site. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribuneRiders wait for a Metra train at the station in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneChildren run through the intersection of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street as twin sisters Desi and Tedi Tsvetanska perform on their violas in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneFrom left, Saurabh Patel, 17-month-old Raina, and Bindi Patel dine outside at Armand''s Pizzeria in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribunePeople walk through the intersection of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneAudience members listen as representatives from the Bears present their concept for building a stadium and entertainment district on the site of Arlington International Racecourse during an informational public meeting at Hersey High School on Sept. 8, 2022. Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago TribuneArlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on May 1, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneWorkers gather in a parking lot outside of the former Arlington Park to begin demolition on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneConstruction equipments is lined up outside the former Arlington International Racecourse, June 13, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues on the grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse on July 11, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe grandstand of the former Arlington International Racecourse is razed on Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneCondos and apartments in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneSelso Nunez, of Palatine, dressed in Bears garb, peeks over the gate of Arlington International Racecourse as he looks for a spot to watch the fireworks following a day of races on Sept. 25, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneThe Flynn family dines outside at Hey Nonny restaurant and listening room on Vail Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA person crosses the street in front of Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneThe former Arlington International Racecourse is shown behind the Arlington Park Metra train station on Oct. 28, 2021. After buying the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights in 2023, the Chicago Bears proposed building a $2 billion stadium there as part of a 326-acre development including entertainment and residential uses. (Chicago Bears) Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago TribuneClouds pass over the now closed Arlington Park International Racecourse on Sept. 6, 2022, in Arlington Heights. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA rendering of the plan is shown as representatives from the Chicago Bears present their concept for building a new stadium and entertainment district on the site of Arlington International Racecourse during a public meeting at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights on Sept. 8, 2022. Hart Howerton/Chicago BearsA rendering released by the Chicago Bears shows the view from the proposed stadium of the Arlington Park entertainment district. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneThe synthetic racing surface is being removed from the track at the Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on Feb. 8, 2023. Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago TribuneThe Arlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on May 1, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneConstruction equipment stands ready for expected demolition at the former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues on the grounds of the former Arlington International Racecourse on June 13, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition crews hired by the Chicago Bears begin knocking down the grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse on June 16, 2023, in Arlington Heights. The Bears are looking at the site for possibly a new stadium for the team. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues of the main grandstand at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights on Aug. 1, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition of the grandstand continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Aug. 7, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition of the grandstand continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Aug. 7, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues on the grandstand and surrounding structures at the former Arlington International Racecourse, Sept. 25, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneApartments and condos in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneA server takes an order for a customer wearing a Chicago Bears shirt, while she and others eat outdoors at Scratchboard Kitchen on Sept. 29, 2021. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribunePeople in a park at the corner of Vail and Campbell in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneDan and Casey Beedon dine at Hey Nonny restaurant and listening room on Vail Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA couple walks through the intersection of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneArlington International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on Feb.8, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneA Metra train passes the former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneDemolition continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Aug. 1, 2023. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribunePeople walk through downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribunePeople mill about in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneThe Metra train station in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneArlington Park International Racecourse in Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race last Saturday. Antonio Perez / Chicago TribuneCustomers sit outdoors in the Arlington Alfresco area, enjoying conversation and food, in downtown Arlington Heights, Sept. 29, 2021. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race last Saturday. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribuneOwner Tim Grodek works the lunch hour at his Peggy Kinnane''s restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021 after the Bears announced they''d entered a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse as a potential new stadium site. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribunePeople cross the Metra tracks in Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Brian Cassella / Chicago TribuneDiners eat outside Peggy Kinnane''s in downtown Arlington Heights on Sept. 29, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneRalph Covert with String Section performs at Hey Nonny on Vail Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneTwin sisters Desi Tchalukov, left, and Tedi Tsvetanska perform on their violas at the corner of Vail Avenue and Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights on Oct. 14, 2021. Erin Hooley / Chicago TribuneArlington Park International Racecourse on Oct. 6, 2021, in Arlington Heights. The Chicago Bears have signed a purchase agreement for Arlington International Racecourse, the near-century-old facility that likely hosted its final horse race. Chris Sweda / Chicago TribuneA person crosses through Harmony Park at Campbell Street and Vail Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights on Jan. 18, 2023. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneTownhomes are seen across from the Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on Feb. 8, 2023. E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago TribuneA view of the former grandstand of Arlington Park International Racecourse property in Arlington Heights on Feb. 8, 2023. Stacey Wescott/Chicago TribuneThe former Arlington International Racecourse at sunrise on May 30, 2023, in Arlington Heights. Demolition is expected to begin soon. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneCrews demolish the main grandstand of the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, July 14, 2023. The site is the possible future home of the Chicago Bears. Trent Sprague/Chicago TribuneMain grandstand demolition continues at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Aug. 1, 2023. Show Caption1 of 63An aerial photo of the former Arlington International Racecourse on March 12, 2024, in Arlington Heights. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)Expand At the owners meetings in Florida, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell fielded what has become an annual spring question about the progress of the Bears' stadium efforts. He acknowledged the complexity of the stadium exploration process, which essentially began in June 2021 when the Bears first entered into a purchase agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. for the Arlington Park land. 'Those discussions, you expect, are going to be thorough,' Goodell told reporters during a news conference. 'There are going to be twists and turns through that process. And then you get to the process of having to actually build once you make those decisions. There's a lot to do.' Goodell's wife, Jane Skinner, is a Chicago-area native, an alumna of Lake Forest High School and Northwestern and a Bears fan. So the commissioner has at least some heightened interest in the team's stadium project. 'I know how important the Bears are to that community,' Goodell said. 'Everyone wants the right long-term solution, and those are the types of discussions that are happening.' Those discussions will take on heightened urgency with Warren sticking to his vow to break ground before this year ends. 'My goal still remains to be able to move dirt around in 2025,' he said. 'Which is important because there is a lot of preconstruction work that needs to go into these projects.' Settling on a site is the next big step. A potential Arlington Heights project may have greater momentum now than the city option. 'Both have their pluses and minuses,' McCaskey said. 'Both present fantastic opportunities. And we'll just have to see how it plays out.' Tribune reporters Olivia Olander and Sean Hammond contributed.
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Bears' George McCaskey: Succession plan officially in place for family control
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Chicago Bears are staying with the McCaskey family. That's the message from team chairman George McCaskey. He answered questions Wednesday about what's next for the franchise after the death of his mother, principal owner Virginia McCaskey. 'We've said for many years that we intend to own the Bears for as long as possible,' George McCaskey said at The Breakers after the annual league meeting wrapped up. 'Another 100 years would be great. She set it up for us to accomplish that. She gave us the playbook. She coached us up. Now we've got to execute the plan, and we're prepared to do that. We've got to stick together.' Advertisement The Bears' succession plan was approved by the league. The organization structure isn't expected to change right now. Virginia McCaskey died on Feb. 6. She was 102 years old. George McCaskey has been the team's chairman since 2011. 'She set it up for a smooth transition, and it's a credit to her,' McCaskey said. 'In law school, I heard stories about people who just couldn't contemplate their mortality, and as a result, it caused a lot of confusion and problems for the family, and she had the foresight to set it up so we don't have that problem.' McCaskey said he appreciated the support he felt from 'our friends around the league' during the league meeting. 'People have been very gracious in their comments and it's very much appreciated by the family,' he said. Brian McCaskey, a board member, attended the league meeting. Some adult McCaskey grandchildren also participated. Continuing George Halas' legacy remains a guiding force. 'George Halas was an innovator. I think that's one of the biggest elements of his legacy,' George McCaskey said. 'We want to be striving to improve all the time, to move the franchise forward, to bring championships to Chicago. We want to celebrate our history and strike that balance between what's an appropriate recognition of what's been accomplished before and striving for excellence in the future.' McCaskey said the Bears supported the Green Bay Packers' proposal to eliminate the tush push, which has been made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles. NFL owners tabled the vote for now. The concerns expressed about 'the safety of everybody involved in that play' by NFL chief medical officer Alan Sills and John York, chairman of the NFL owners' health and safety advisory committee, during committee meetings earlier this month stuck with McCaskey, he said. Advertisement 'I know they say that we don't have sufficient injury data on it, but, to us, it appears to be an inherently unsafe play,' McCaskey said. 'For decades, there was a rule on the books making it illegal to push the runner. It went away in 2004, and I always wondered why that happened. Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, explained to us (Tuesday) that the officials said that it was too difficult. It was like a moving scrum down the field, and it was difficult to determine if an offensive lineman was blocking or pushing the runner, so they took it out. That led to the push play. From what I understood (Tuesday), the push play will lead to a broader examination of whether that general rule should be brought back. We think it should be an enhancement to the game, to make it safer for the players.' In December, the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins became the first teams to sell minority stakes to private equity firms. The sales were made after the NFL announced in August 2024 that a total of 10 percent of a team can be owned by private equity funds that have been vetted by the league. McCaskey said it's 'something that we're continuing to look at.' President/CEO Kevin Warren is going to present a report to the Bears' board in May. 'It may be utilized as part of our stadium construction financing plan,' McCaskey said. 'We haven't made a decision yet.' Ben Johnson is the fifth head coach to join McCaskey, in his role as chairman, at the league's annual meeting after Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus. 'We're moving forward,' McCaskey said. 'It's his team now, and we like what we've seen from Ben and (general manager) Ryan (Poles) and the way they work together, the way they communicate. By my observation, it appears to be mutual respect and mutual admiration.' Advertisement What about Johnson has made an early impression? 'I've seen him in the weight room,' McCaskey said with a smile. 'I think frenetic would be the best description. He's intense. You can see the competitiveness. He looks like he enjoys life, which is important for an NFL head coach. And his resume speaks for itself. We're very excited about everything he brings to Chicago.'
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
George McCaskey has no intention for family to sell the Chicago Bears: ‘Another 100 years would be great'
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey is determined to keep the franchise in his family's hands for a long time to come, emphasizing Wednesday that he has no desire to entertain thoughts of a sale or power shift. 'We've said for many years that we intend to own the Bears for as long as possible,' McCaskey said at the NFL owners meetings. 'Another 100 years would be great.' That was a firm declaration from the highest-ranking member of the McCaskey family as outside curiosity circulates regarding the team's future. Less than eight weeks after the death of principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, George McCaskey said his mother long ago established a sustainable succession plan that the NFL approved. 'She gave us the playbook,' McCaskey said. 'She coached us up. Now we've got to execute the plan. And we're prepared to do that. We've got to stick together.' As with any kind of significant plans among any family, spirited debate and differing desires remain part of the process. McCaskey acknowledged he isn't oblivious to those dynamics, and his 'stick together' rallying cry carries purpose. 'Part of (my parents') process was to have us study other family businesses,' McCaskey told the Tribune. 'That was to anticipate and avoid pitfalls. And I think history shows that in any family, two of the biggest enemies are greed and jealousy. So we are working on trust and communication to avoid those pitfalls.' Asked whether the family has been successful on that front, McCaskey shrugged. 'It's an ongoing process,' he said. 'It's a constant challenge.' When the Bears played their final home game last season — a brutal 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 26 — a dejected Soldier Field crowd reacted to the team's 10th consecutive defeat with loud chants of 'Sell the team! Sell the team!' During such a turbulent, failure-filled season, it would be easy to discount such pleas as emotion-fueled reaction. But for some time now, critics of the Bears' long run of mediocrity — the team has a .412 winning percentage and zero playoff wins since McCaskey became chairman in 2011 — have reasonably wondered whether the team's path to greater glory might require different ownership. The Bears haven't enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons since the late 1980s and are approaching the 40th anniversary of their lone Super Bowl triumph. McCaskey was asked how he would respond to those who consider the 'Sell the team!' sentiment as prudent advice. 'We consider ourselves uniquely qualified to carry out George Halas' legacy,' he said. 'And we have every intention of doing that.' McCaskey is joined on the Bears board of directors by three of his brothers — Pat, Brian and Ed Jr. — plus Pat Ryan and team President/CEO Kevin Warren. While team officials have declined to detail how Virginia McCaskey's shares of the team were divided, George McCaskey said he doesn't anticipate a shift in the ownership structure. 'There shouldn't be,' he said. 'She set this up for a smooth transition. And it's a credit to her. 'In law school, I heard stories about people who just couldn't contemplate their mortality, and as a result it caused a lot of confusion and problems for the family. But she had the foresight to set it up so we don't have that problem.' McCaskey further commended his mother and late father, Ed, for doing 'a remarkable job while they were with us of letting us know exactly what was going on, what their plan was, how it would be carried out and what was expected of us.' On his end, McCaskey remains determined to fulfill those expectations and will keep pushing for a unified family vision.
