Chicago Bears fans may feel like they're stuck on the sidelines as the team weighs offers for potential new stadiums in Arlington Heights and northwest Indiana.
Now, a former governor of Illinois says he's found a way to give fans a voice.
Former Governor Pat Quinn says his new website - "Bear Down For Illinois" - is collecting online signatures to send a message to team executives.
"We want to make sure our team stays in Illinois," the former governor told 104.3 The Score Wednesday morning. "We've got to make sure that the fans have a way to tell the owners to be loyal to the fans ... not just big money."
Quinn - who served as Illinois governor from 2009 to 2015 - said he was spurred to act by movement in the Indiana General Assembly aimed at luring the team across the state line. A proposal to create a stadium authority that could build a new domed stadium for the Bears in Hammond is awaiting final action in the Indiana state Senate.
"I heard the Governor of Indiana (Republican Mike Braun) telling us to be prepared for misery!" Quinn said. "He wants to take the team away from Illinois and make it the Hammond Hoosiers. No way!"
State lawmakers in Illinois are preparing to consider a measure that would let the Bears negotiate and lock in long-term property tax payments for the Arlington Heights property the team purchased for a new stadium three years ago. The Bears have promised to pay for a new stadium, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has said he's open to helping with infrastructure needs around a new stadium.
Quinn knows a thing or two about gathering public support: his past petition drives have sparked changes in Illinois law and created the Citizens Utility Board. And he insisted there's still time for fans to be part of the process.
"The Bears owners should not give up on Illinois Bears fans," Quinn said. "The support of the fans is one that the Bears should never under-estimate."