Chicago, IL – Bears fans were handed a carefully worded letter this week, wrapped in gratitude, civic pride and championship ambition, but the message underneath was familiar: pressure the public, pressure lawmakers and keep the relocation threat alive.
The statement from team president Kevin Warren reads less like a community update and more like strategic rage bait, designed to divide fans and redirect frustration away from ownership decisions and toward state leaders. Fans should be cautious before taking the bait.
According to the Bears, Arlington Heights remains the only viable option in Cook County, and the organization insists it has negotiated in good faith. The letter emphasizes private investment while repeatedly highlighting a lack of “urgency” from Illinois lawmakers. What it avoids is a clear commitment to staying in Chicago or even in Illinois if demands are not met.
This is the critical point fans should focus on. If the Bears truly care about their fans, their history and their identity, they should build here. Not issue public ultimatums. Not float Indiana as a pressure tactic. And not frame relocation talk as an unfortunate necessity forced upon them.
The Bears are one of the NFL’s most valuable franchises. They play in the nation’s third-largest media market, supported by generations of loyal fans who show up in losing seasons, rebuilding years and record cold. That loyalty should not be leveraged as a bargaining chip.
Yes, Soldier Field is outdated. Yes, a modern stadium matters. But the choice should be simple: commit to Illinois and finalize a plan, or be honest with fans and admit the franchise is willing to leave the state if the deal is not perfect.
Dragging this out through emotional letters only fuels anger and confusion. Fans deserve clarity, not posturing.
Don’t fall for the rage bait. Build here. Or say you won’t.
