(670 The Score) The Bears on Thursday named Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren their new president and CEO.
Warren, 59, had served as the Big Ten commissioner since 2020, when he replaced the retiring Jim Delany. He joined the Big Ten after previously serving as the Vikings’ chief operating officer for five years. Warren is the first Black president and CEO in Bears history and also the team's first president to be hired from outside the organization.
"I am honored and recognize the responsibility bestowed upon me to lead the Chicago Bears during this exciting and pivotal time for the franchise," Warren said in a statement. "I look forward to building on the rich tradition that started with George Halas and connecting with the unique and vibrant fanbase in Chicago. I join the Chicago Bears with gratitude and drive to carry out and build upon the legacy and spirit of this founding franchise and my predecessors. This is a franchise that is respected in all of professional sports, and I am humbled to be selected as the next President & CEO of the Chicago Bears. I sincerely thank Virginia McCaskey, George McCaskey, the McCaskey family, Ted Phillips and the search team, for the responsibility and trust placed in me to lead the Chicago Bears and deliver championships to Chicago.”
Warren had multiple interviews with the Bears during the fall. He’ll replace the retiring Ted Phillips, who has served as the Bears’ president and CEO since 1999.
"Kevin is a man of integrity, respect and excellence, all of which are critical core values of the Chicago Bears, and we welcome his perspective and diverse thought to lead this storied organization,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said in a statement. “He is a proven leader who has many times stepped outside of his comfort zone to challenge status quo for unconventional growth and prosperity. In this role, Warren will serve in the primary leadership position of the franchise to help bring the next Super Bowl championship trophy home to Bears fans.”
Warren will oversee general manager Ryan Poles and the business operations of the organization, the Bears said in a press release.
“Kevin is going to be a tremendous resource and I am excited to get started with him,” Poles said. “In my time spent with him during the interview process, it quickly became apparent his resumé and business acumen will be a powerful asset to helping improve our organization and ultimately reach our goal to be a championship organization.”
Warren began his career with the Rams in 1997 as their vice president of player programs and football legal counsel before being promoted to vice president of football administration in 2000. He was hired by the Lions in 2001, spending three years as Detroit’s senior vice president of business operations and general counsel.
Warren became a key figure in the Vikings’ organization when they hired him in 2005. He was their executive vice president of legal affairs and chief administrative officer for a decade before being promoted to the position of chief operating officer in 2015.
With the Vikings, Warren was an influential figure in formulating plans for the team’s new U.S. Bank Stadium, which opened in 2016.
"From the very onset, Kevin helped us navigate and execute the purchase of the franchise," Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in a January 2019 statement. "He then evolved as a leader of the organization in ways we never could have imagined, leading our vision for U.S. Bank Stadium and TCO Performance Center, developing a world-class fan experience, and implementing many initiatives that have transformed our franchise with the benefit of our employees and Vikings fans top of mind. Kevin has been a tremendous leader for the Vikings, and he and his family have been passionately and intricately involved in the community, enhancing the lives of so many people."
Among the top priorities for Warren in leading the Bears will be overseeing the team's plans for a potential new stadium. In September 2021, the Bears signed an agreement to purchase the 326-acre property at Arlington Park, with the vision to build a new stadium on it. Warren will be tasked with guiding the Bears through that process. The organization could close on the property early in 2023.
Phillips announced in September his plan to retire, and the Bears soon began their search to find his replacement.
“It’s difficult to put into words how much Ted has meant to the Bears and our family," McCaskey said in September. "The faith that Virginia and Ed McCaskey placed in him by naming him president and CEO of the Bears has been rewarded many times over.
"He is held in high regard by his peers around the league, and deservedly so. We are lucky to have had him here as long as we did.”
Warren faced big challenges during his three years leading the Big Ten. The COVID-19 pandemic began just three months after he started his job as commissioner. The Big Ten announced on Aug. 11, 2020 that it wouldn't conduct its football season, a decision that led to great scrutiny for Warren. Bears quarterback Justin Fields, then a junior at Ohio State, started an online petition for the conference to play that season. It received more than 250,000 signatures at the time.
One month later in September 2020, the Big Ten reversed its initial decision and announced that it would conduct an abbreviated season that began in October. That came after Big Ten universities, administrators, players and parents put great pressure on Warren and the conference.
In late June, the Big Ten voted to add USC and UCLA to the conference in 2024. Warren in August led the negotiations for a new seven-year media rights agreement with FOX, CBS and NBC that's set to bring in more than $7 billion to the conference. It proved to be one of Warren's most impactful and final tasks as Big Ten commissioner.
Warren will begin his official business with the Bears in the spring, the team said. The Bears plan to introduce him in a press conference Tuesday.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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