By Illinois Review
Sources inside the Capitol tell Illinois Review that Gov. JB Pritzker’s office is in a “state of shock after clear signals that the Chicago Bears are likely heading to Indiana – a move that would mark the first time in franchise history the storied team leaves Illinois.
For years, Democrats in Springfield assumed the Bears would never walk away. Now, that political gamble appears to be collapsing.
Multiple insiders say senior staff were caught off guard by how aggressively Indiana lawmakers moved to secure the team. While Illinois leaders downplayed the stadium issue, Indiana’s Republican-led legislature advanced Senate Bill 27 with urgency, creating a path for a stadium authority and financing options for a new domed stadium in Hammond near Wolf Lake.
Meanwhile, in Illinois, the Bears were told directly that their project would not be a 2026 priority.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch publicly stated that a new stadium was not high on the agenda. Senate President Don Harmon’s office echoed similar sentiments. Lawmakers emphasized rising costs and affordability concerns, suggesting that discussing stadium incentives was “insensitive” to voters.
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren confirmed in a letter to fans that the team had been informed by state leadership their project would not be prioritized.
Now, the consequences are becoming real.
Sources also say Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office is quietly pointing fingers at Pritzker and Democratic leadership in Springfield for failing to take the threat seriously. With Johnson facing potential re-election, aides reportedly fear the loss of the Bears would haunt him on the campaign trail.
Losing a franchise of this magnitude would be devastating for the city and state.
The Bears are not just a football team. They are an institution tied to generations of Illinois families. Soldier Field, despite its 2003 renovation, has long been criticized as outdated by NFL standards. A modern stadium represents jobs, development, tourism, and long-term economic impact.
Instead, Illinois allowed years of delay.
A key bill known as House Bill 2789, often referred to as the “megaprojects” bill, has lingered without urgency. A scheduled February hearing was canceled. The Bears, frustrated by slow movement, began exploring Indiana more seriously.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Republican lawmakers moved swiftly. Committees advanced SB 27 unanimously.
The message was clear: Indiana is open for business.
Gov. Pritzker has pushed back publicly, pointing to a recent three-hour meeting with the Bears and claiming progress toward a framework without direct state construction funding. He even expressed surprise when the Bears publicly praised Indiana leaders without mentioning Illinois’ efforts.
But insiders say the governor’s team misread the situation. They believed the Bears would never leave.
If the franchise does cross state lines, the political fallout could be severe. Such a loss under Pritzker’s watch would damage his re-election prospects and effectively end any realistic presidential ambitions.
Illinois has already seen businesses and residents flee high taxes and regulatory burdens. Losing one of the NFL’s founding franchises would symbolize something far worse – a state that no longer competes.
For now, nothing is final. But inside the governor’s office, the shock is real.
The question is whether Illinois Democrats waited too long – and whether voters will make them pay.
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