Bears president/CEO Ted Phillips to retire at season’s end

The Athletic’s Dan Pompei dropped a bombshell Friday morning with the breaking news that Chicago Bears president and CEO, Ted Phillips, will retire at the end of the 2022 season. Phillips, who’s worked for the Bears for 39 years (23 years in his current role), was instrumental in the Soldier Field renovation and has led the charge in the Bears’ stadium project at Arlington Heights.

“When COVID came, it changed a lot of dynamics and gave me some time to reflect on my life, my work life,” Phillips told The Athletic. “I came to the conclusion that, my gosh, almost 40 years is a long time. It’s time to hand over the baton and give myself the gift of time. You know how this business can be, a lot of hours and time away from family. I just turned 65 years old. I feel good. My health is good. I felt it was time to slow down and do whatever I want to do.”

Phillips has been an easy target for disgruntled Bears fans through the years. Chicago’s lost more game than it’s won under his watch, which led to a reshuffling of the football organization last offseason. General manager Ryan Poles reports directly to George McCaskey, a stark contrast from past regimes that first went through Phillips for football decisions.

The Bears have already begun a search for Phillips’ replacement. For a complete breakdown of the Ted Phillips news, check out Pompei’s article here.