(670 The Score) As Bears players and coaches walked through a roped-off lane in the tunnel of U.S. Bank Stadium following a dejecting loss to the Vikings in early October, they turned a corner toward the locker room and saw an unfamiliar presence standing on the side.
Kevin Warren was wearing a dark suit and made eye contact with several Bears players whom he knew from his past in the NFL. That included exchanging pleasantries with veteran tackle Riley Reiff and others before Warren left the state-of-the-art stadium that he helped become a reality in Minneapolis' east downtown district.
At that time in early October, Warren was officially present as the Big Ten's third-year commissioner. But he was also looking at a future with eyes wide open and pondering the next step of his professional career.
The Bears on Thursday morning named the 59-year-old Warren their new president and CEO. He'll officially begin his new role this spring and will replace the retiring Ted Phillips, who had been in the position since 1999.
Warren is the fifth individual to be named Bears president in their 102-year history. He's the second who doesn't hail from the Halas/McCaskey family and the first to be tabbed from outside of the organization. The Bears' appointment of their new president is a refreshing change for both the franchise and Warren himself.
Warren joined the Big Ten as an outsider from college athletics, replacing Jim Delany in early 2020 without knowing the remarkable challenge that would lie ahead with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. That August, Warren made the decision to cancel the Big Ten football season. It was an unpopular choice that was met with great scrutiny – from university presidents, athletic directors, parents and even players like Bears quarterback Justin Fields, who was then an Ohio State junior who formed an online petition demanding to play. It generated more than 250,000 signatures at the time.
The Big Ten reversed course a month later and eventually conducted an abbreviated season that began in late October, but Warren has struggled to earn back the faith of his peers ever since. His job became more challenging due to conference realignment, the emergence of name-image-and-likeness deals being legalized by legislation and the prospect of the lawsuits to come seeking to make college athletes unionized employees. To put it simply, Warren's job drastically changed over the course of his three years as Big Ten commissioner.
In 2022, he guided the Big Ten in expansion by adding USC and UCLA. He then led 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.
But privately, Warren was mulling his own future. He had spent more than two decades in the NFL, including 15 years with the Vikings, the last five as their chief operating officer from 2015 until his hiring as Big Ten commissioner. Warren brought a different approach to the commissioner role than his predecessor Delany, who was a popular figure over 30 years with the Big Ten.
"He didn't make a lot of friends with the coaches and probably with some of the ADs," a source familiar with Warren said. "It's a tough position trying to weigh the agenda of 14, and soon to be 16, institutions who are all looking out for themselves."
Warren was believed to have interviewed with the Broncos for their team president position, according to another source. That job went to longtime NFL executive Damani Leech this past August. It's unclear whether Warren progressed as a serious candidate in Denver or was simply exploring the opportunity, but he had begun to evaluate a return to the professional ranks.
During his 15 years in the Vikings, Warren was an instrumental figure who was celebrated for his work on behalf of owners Mark and Zygi Wilf. He helped close their purchase of the franchise in 2005, significantly boosted profits for the organization and — perhaps most importantly — played a key role in the design, construction, business, legal and operational aspects of U.S. Bank Stadium.
Bears chairman George McCaskey was attracted by Warren's work with a division rival and the natural fit he could have for their own agendas. In September 2021, the Bears signed a $197.2-million contract to purchase the 326-acre property at Arlington Park. They hope to close on the purchase early this year, which is expected to be the last task for Phillips before the reins are turned over the Warren in the spring.
Once the purchase is finalized, the Bears are expected to build a new stadium on the Arlington Heights property as well as an entertainment district on the surrounding land. The team plans to seek public funding for the entertainment district while navigating a transition from Soldier Field, its home since 1971.
"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," 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."
The hiring of Warren represents a seismic change for the Bears as a franchise, one that has acted like a ma-and-pa shop among multi-billion-dollar corporations. Warren's arrival at Halas Hall will mark a departure from the past and bring a forward-thinking vision for the future.
This is a pivotal change for both the Warren and the Bears, who can move forward together with better days ahead.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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