ILLINOIS — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Bears minority owner Pat Ryan, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, State Rep. Kam Buckner, and State Sen. Bill Cunningham on Thursday in Chicago to discuss keeping the Chicago Bears in Illinois.

The Illinois Governor's Office stated the meeting was focused on keeping the Bears in Illinois and protecting taxpayers. This was the first known in-person meeting between Pritzker and Goodell, despite their prior communication via calls and texts over nine months. The governor's office stated it has remained in conversation with the Bears about their plans in Illinois throughout the summer.

Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren was not present at the meeting. Bears primary owner George McCaskey was not present at the meeting. Recent discussions between the Bears and Illinois officials have focused on a public ownership model for the stadium. The Bears originally intended to privately finance and own the new stadium.

Pat Ryan holds a 10 percent stake in the Chicago Bears. Ryan funded the construction of Northwestern University's $875 million New Ryan Field, which opened in 2023.

The NFL issued a statement regarding the discussions. "The NFL appreciated the opportunity to meet with Governor Pritzker and legislative leaders today. Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term stadium solution for the club and their fans," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said the Bears informed him of the meeting with Illinois officials before it took place. "I don't love the fact that Roger Goodell is in Chicago right now. I appreciate the fact that the Bears reached out and gave me a heads up. I trust that we're in the lead and that we are gonna get this deal done," McDermott said.

Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia offered a different perspective on the developments. We were aware of today’s meeting between Governor Pritzker, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and other state leaders, and we are encouraged by the Governor’s statement following that discussion. We welcome continued progress toward keeping the Bears in Illinois and continue to believe that Arlington Heights offers the best opportunity for the Bears to build a state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment district," Tinaglia said."

Why It Matters

The Bears have publicly stated their sole focus for a new stadium site is Hammond, Indiana. Indiana has passed legislation offering up to $1 billion in incentives for the Bears to build a stadium in the state. In June 2026, the Bears' board of directors voted to advance a stadium project across the state line in Hammond, Indiana, after a spring legislative session in which the Illinois House and Senate passed competing packages that would have given the team tax certainty in Illinois but couldn’t agree on the same bill. The Bears announced on June 5 that their board of directors had voted to proceed with plans for a new stadium in Hammond.

The Bears own a 326-acre property at the former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The Bears have committed to contributing $2 billion toward the construction of a new stadium. The Bears hope to begin construction on a new stadium in 2026.

The Bears are under lease at Soldier Field until 2033. Lawmakers are set to return to Springfield on Nov. 17-19 and Dec. 1-3 for the fall veto session, and Governor JB Pritzker indicated that this session is the right time to advance the legislation related to the Bears stadium project.

What's New

This was the first known in-person meeting between Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, despite their prior communication via calls and texts over nine months. In 2019, the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and state legislators to discuss the Bears' stadium plans, marking a similar high-level meeting that occurred nearly seven years prior to this one.

Pat Ryan, a billionaire with a net worth of $9 billion, funded the construction of Northwestern University's $875 million New Ryan Field, which opened in 2026. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. stated the Bears informed him of the Illinois meeting in advance, emphasizing their commitment to Hammond and the NFL's need to 'close the door on Illinois' in the stadium negotiations.

"I don't love the fact that Roger Goodell is in Chicago right now. I appreciate the fact that the Bears reached out and gave me a heads up. I trust that we're in the lead and that we are gonna get this deal done," Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said. "The NFL appreciated the opportunity to meet with Governor Pritzker and legislative leaders today. Timely action is essential as the Bears work to find a long-term stadium solution for the club and their fans," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.

"We were aware of today’s meeting between Governor Pritzker, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and other state leaders, and we are encouraged by the Governor’s statement following that discussion. We welcome continued progress toward keeping the Bears in Illi"