We could be seeing the end of an era unfold in real time as a legacy NFL franchise with a century of history in its signature American city is moving forward with plans to leave town: The Bears are advancing their stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana.The team announced Friday afternoon that it has taken this significant step toward pulling up stakes from Chicago and even the state of Illinois.The Bears' board of directors met on Thursday, into the evening, and voted to advance the stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana — with an exact stadium site to be selected."We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana and the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across the neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city," Bears Chairman George H.McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement.BEARS INCH CLOSER TO INDIANA AFTER KEY STATE HOUSE COMMITTEE CLEARS STADIUM MEASURE"It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."This is the first time the team's board has voted on a stadium site.
So this is notable and significant, but an NFL source told Fox News there is a chance Illinois might still be able to convince the team to stay in the state.Those chances were characterized as requiring "a Hail Mary" political effort.And this: That Hail Mary, even if it were to work, will still move the club out of Chicago with the only site in Illinois as a likely landing spot being in Arlington Heights, Ill.Chicago Bears helmets are displayed before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., on Sept.
28, 2025.(Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)PRITZKER HITS CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON FOR HAVING 'NO PLAN' TO KEEP THE BEARS IN THE CITYThe NFL has been meeting with both the Bears and officials from both Illinois and Indiana in the last six months, and the league's Stadium Committee is aware of the latest decision...