Bears on verge of leaving Chicago after 105 years in Windy City

Chicago Bears offensive lineman.

Da Bears, the NFL team that made the Billboard charts with the iconic "The Super Bowl Shuffle" in 1986, may soon be shuffling right out of Chicago. The Bears have been based in Chicago since the franchise was founded in 1920 and is the league's third-oldest franchise. 

But an effort led by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has all but enticed the Bears to leave Chicago for Hammond, Indiana, which is situated in northwest Indiana, about 30 miles outside of Chicago. Local officials have identified a site where a new $2 billion stadium would be built for the Bears to call home, and Indiana politicians are working on legislation to formalize the invitation for the legendary NFL team that has become synonymous with Chicago. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston has said the Bears relocating to Indiana from Soldier Field "represents a transformational investment for northwest Indiana and our state." 

On the other end of a possible relocation, Chicago, which has struggled to rein in violent crime under Democrat leadership from both the mayor, Brandon Johnson, and governor, JB Pritzker, stand lose the NFL's 7th most valuable team, according to a CNBC ranking done in 2025, which pegged the Bears' value at nearly $9 billion. Losing such a storied franchise would be another stain on their otherwise failure-riddled legacies.

Johnson seemed to have been caught flat-footed this week when reporters asked him about the possibility that the Bears will exit Chicago. As Dave Rubin noted, [legendary Bears coach] "Mike Ditka would’ve kicked the crap out of this clown." Below, watch Johnson address the Bears possible exit from Chicago.