Bears name Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren as new team president

The Chicago Bears announced Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren as team president on Thursday following weeks of speculation that he was the team’s top choice to replace Ted Phillips.

We have named Kevin Warren as our next President & CEO.

Welcome to the Bears, Kevin! ??

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 12, 2023

Warren last worked in the NFL as the Chief Operating Officer of the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.

Warren was instrumental in the Vikings stadium development project (now U.S. Bank Stadium). He’ll be charged with the same duties with the Bears. The team purchased 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights in what’s expected to be the site of a state-of-the-art Chicago Bears stadium and experience.

Warren was named Big Ten commissioner on June 4, 2019, the first African American to serve in that role. He helped guide the conference through the turbulent COVID-19 season and was critical in securing USC and UCLA to join the league in 2024.

Warren replaces longtime team president Ted Phillips, who announced last year that the 2022 season would be his last. Phillips served in his current capacity for the last 23 years and has been involved with the Bears for four decades.